Study finds floods and cyclones in Bangladesh disproportionately damage sanitation for people with disabilities, increasing health risks, stigma, and caregiver burden while highlighting urgent need for inclusive climate adaptation efforts.
A new nationwide study has revealed that extreme weather events are driving a “silent sanitation crisis” for people with disabilities, exposing them to heightened health risks, loss of dignity and increased dependence on caregivers.
The research, led by Shahpara Nawaz and an international team, examined how climate-related disasters affect sanitation access across Bangladesh. The study was conducted in collaboration with the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the University of Leeds.
Combining large-scale survey data with in-depth qualitative research, the study covered more than 1,900 individuals across 32 districts, comparing the experiences of people with and without disabilities. Researchers used statistical models to assess sanitation facility damage, coping strategies and behavioural changes during floods and cyclones.
Fieldwork also included interviews and participatory photovoice exercises in climate-vulnerable areas such as Satkhira and Gaibandha, capturing lived experiences of affected communities.
Higher risks and deeper inequalities
The findings show that people with disabilities face significantly higher risks during extreme weather events. Sanitation facilities used by people with disabilities were 28 percent more likely to be damaged compared to those used by people without disabilities.
Socioeconomic status was found to be a critical factor. Individuals from wealthier households were far less likely to experience sanitation damage, highlighting how poverty and disability intersect to increase vulnerability.
Barriers beyond broken infrastructure
Beyond physical damage, accessibility challenges intensify during floods and cyclones. Floodwaters often make paths to toilets muddy, slippery and dangerous, increasing the risk of injury for both people with disabilities and their caregivers.
Accessing alternative sanitation facilities is frequently not an option. Some participants reported facing verbal abuse when attempting to use neighbours’ toilets, forcing them to rely on damaged facilities or resort to open defecation.
Gendered and personal impacts
The study also highlights deeply personal and gendered consequences. Women with disabilities reported restricting their use of sanitation facilities due to concerns over privacy and safety. This often led to reduced food and water intake, increasing health risks.
For individuals with incontinence, the inability to reach facilities in time resulted in soiled clothing and bedding, raising the risk of infections and reinforcing social stigma.
Caregivers under pressure
Caregivers are also bearing a heavy burden. Assisting individuals through flooded and unsafe conditions often leads to physical strain and injuries while the emotional demands of constant care intensify during disasters. These pressures can disrupt livelihoods and deepen existing inequalities.
Call for inclusive climate action
The study concludes that climate-related disasters do not affect all populations equally. For people with disabilities, floods and cyclones amplify existing barriers to sanitation, increasing exposure to waste, health risks and social exclusion.
“Locally led adaptation is not optional, it is essential,” said Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global. “Communities on the frontlines, including people with disabilities, must be at the center of designing climate-resilient sanitation systems. Without investing in their leadership, knowledge and solutions, we risk deepening inequalities instead of addressing them.”
Researchers warn that without targeted, disability-inclusive and climate-resilient sanitation systems, these inequalities will continue to worsen, undermining public health and human dignity on a global scale.
