Paper long abstract:

Riverbank erosion causes substantial environmental, social and economic impacts such as loss of land, displacement of people, and disruption to their livelihoods, education, and well-being. While much research examines migration driven by natural hazards, why some households stay put despite facing hardship is less well understood. This research addresses this knowledge gap by examining the social and economic impacts of river erosion and factors behind decisions to migrate, focusing on erosion-prone Sariakandi Upazila along the Jamuna River and Harirampur Upazila along the Padma River in Bangladesh. A mixed-methods approach combined quantitative surveys with qualitative focus group discussions. Households that had faced erosion recently and those that had experienced it in the distant past were surveyed. FGDs were conducted with the eroded people to gain qualitative insights into the impacts of riverbank erosion and migration decisions. Statistical analysis and thematic coding were used to examine drivers of migration decisions and resilience strategies. In Harirampur, 45.7% of those who experienced riverbank erosion recently chose to stay, citing financial constraints and attachment to home as key reasons. If households migrated, they did it within a village or union while those who experienced it in the past migrated across unions. All participants reported a significant impact of migration on children's education. Support during and after erosion was considered minimal in both sites. The research highlights the need for targeted support and resilience-building strategies to address the immediate and long-term needs that would enhance livelihood security and educational opportunities of households affected by riverbank erosion.