Conflict, in the context of social groups, is what we refer to as an aggressive encounter between groups of people that see agreement (or disagreement) on political ideology (or interests) brought on by the exploitation of natural resources, sectarian tensions, and external intervention. Conflict zones are basically areas where conflict is dominant and has an adverse effect on human lives. It can range from a region, an area within a country to an area covering the national boundary of two or more countries. Marginalized communities are groups and communities that face discrimination and exclusion due to unequal power relations across social, economic, and political dimensions. They have often been historically deprived of basic human rights to resources and opportunities. Many indigenous communities across the world have been classified as marginalized because of the effects of colonialism on them such as the Native Americans, the Australian Aboriginals, the Indian Santhal, and Munda tribes, etc.
Marginalized communities anyway have a harder time dealing with a lot of life struggles. Their major concern is survival and fulfilling the basic necessities of life. Important resources, such as private property, vital infrastructure, and environmental services, are destroyed during conflicts. Agriculture and livelihoods may be affected, particularly if there are restrictions on migration. Furthermore, there are few choices for livelihood diversification due to the limited economic opportunities in conflict-affected areas.
There is rising evidence that relates climate change to conflict in both wealthy and poor nations. The likelihood and intensity of conflict and violence can both rise as a result of the effects of climate change such as variations in temperature and precipitation. India has seen numerous weather events in the past few years that have not only devastated the natural resources but also affected food resources, shelter, and overall livestock that helps people in surviving their daily life. Climate change, according to scientists, does not directly cause hostilities, but it may indirectly enhance the probability of conflict by amplifying existing social, economic, and environmental elements. For example, when cattle herders and agricultural producers are forced to share declining resources as a result of climate change, tensions might arise in areas lacking good governance and inclusive institutions. Extreme weather and other negative consequences of climate change might cause displacement. According to the Global Report on Internal Displacement, 30 million people would be newly displaced as a result of weather-related disasters in 2020, compared to 9.8 million as a result of conflict and violence. Internally displaced people are poorer and have limited food security, in addition to being uprooted from their homes.
According to a recent World Bank assessment, as many as 216 million people may be forced to relocate within their own countries by the slow-onset effects of climate change by 2050. Their civic, political, economic, social, and cultural rights may also be jeopardized. The major challenge that these communities come across is the need to cope with the changing environment and that too without any preparatory measures. Since these groups are forced to move from one place to another, they are also ones to receive the wrath of the extremities of climate change. Extreme rainfall, cyclones, landslides, and storms are the most common weather effects that are seen in such regions. So, with the limited resources that they have, they try to make do with the natural resources like building a makeshift house, eating what is easily available, and keeping the cattle in safer places. Sometimes, when the pattern of extreme weather is understood, they also start preparing for upcoming events way before it hits the core. They have a very organic way to cope with environmental calamities.
Though we have seen a leap in disaster risk reduction planning and strategies from the official authorities in the past few years, but there are still places where infrastructure is either not accessible or not enough is available to reach out with help. Climate change acts as a risk multiplier in certain scenarios. In the case of Rohingyas, when they were forced to exit Myanmar due to religious conflict, most of them fled to Bangladesh. But despite sharing the same religious belief, the Rohingyas could not find a home or relief in Bangladesh due to complex socio-economic-ethnic issues. On top of that, Bangladesh was hit by Cyclone Amphan in 2020, affecting around 10 million people all across the country and destroying about 600 shelters in refugee camps in Cox Bazar. The refugees had a difficult time finding food and basic amenities.
Chakmas and Hajongs of Indian origin have been in conflict with the Mizos for a long time now on the ground owing to differences in their religious beliefs. They have been living in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh and many of them migrated to Indian lands of the North-East before and after Bangladesh Partition. They are primarily found in West Bengal, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Myanmar, and Bangladesh. The decision of the then -Pakistan government to construct “Kaptai Dam'' on the Karnaphuli river in the area populated mostly by Chakmas led to submerging of the cultivable lands, resulting in the displacement of thousands of Chakmas during the 1960s into the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Kaptai Hydro-electric Dam, built in 1957-62, was constructed in the CHT with the assistance of the US Agency for International Development to provide electricity in much of East Pakistan. The project flooded nearly 40% of the cultivable farmland (655 square kilometers -including 22,000 hectares of cultivable land) and resulted in the displacement of nearly 100,000 Chakmas.
It is indeed important and appreciative of the agencies to take immediate actions post-disaster but what we need now is the preparedness to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Since we have realized that climate change is very much here and it is going to be like this for some time now, we have also come to accept that we only have one planet and hence we should be willing and ready to reduce the disaster by adopting the climate-friendly lifestyle, understanding the patterns of climate change and adopting policies to reduce the carbon emission, decreasing our energy consumption, keeping the biodiversity alive and protecting our overall environment. While identifying the vulnerable population could be one major step in protecting them from the effects of climate change. The next step could be to adopt a sustainable lifestyle and have alternate plans for providing these communities with the necessary facilities and building a climate-sensitive community.
Saroj has an experience of over 9 years working in the development sector as a social worker, educator and an independent researcher. She has worked extensively with the marginalized community in India and Nepal. She is an avid reader and takes a profound interest in writing, preferably human stories.
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