ABSTRACT
The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report identifies urban informal settlements as the most vulnerable type of human settlements to climate change. The physical growth and socio-economic expansion of informal settlements takes place largely outside any official rules and regulations and in distressed and climate-vulnerable locations. Climate change is magnifying existing urban problems in rapidly urbanizing towns and cities in Bangladesh conditions. Urban informal settlements in Khulna are also characterized by overarching non-climatic trends of population growth, rapid urbanization and intensification of economic activities. Rupsha is surrounded by a wide range of mixed land use such as industrial and commercial establishments, including shrimp processing houses and cold storage, sawmills and retail stores. In double-storey dwelling units, services are found at the lower level, while the upper levels are comprised of bed and storage spaces with a small semi-outdoor space. Anticipating hazard effects, and depending on affordability, households choose durable or temporary building materials.
