Kutub, J. R., Cvetković, V. M., & Huq, S. (2017). Assessment of women’s vulnerability and their coping mechanism living in flood prone areas: A case study of Belkuchi Upazila, Sirajganj. Serbian Science Today, 2(1), 35–43.

UDC

 

Друштвене науке / Humanities

Оригиналан научни рад / Original scientific paper

 

Процена рањивости жена и механизми њиховог суочавања са последицама у областима изложеним поплавама: студија случаја Белкучи Упазила, Сирајгањ

Assessment of women’s vulnerability and the mechanism of their coping with consequences in flood prone areas: a case study of Belkuchi Upazilla, Sirajganj

 

Јуел Рана Кутуб, предавач

Колеџ Фаужарда Кадет

Faujdarhat, Sitakundu, Chittagong 4616,

Бангладеш

juelrana63@yahoo.com

 

Владимир М. Цветковић,

доцент

Универзитет у Београду, Факултет безбедности

Господара Вучића 50, 11000 Београд

vladimirkpa@gmail.com

 

Шахназ Хук Хусаин, професор

Универзитет у Даки,

Одсек за географију и животну средину Registrar Building, Nilkhet Road 1000, Dhaka, Бангладеш

 

shuqhussain@gmail.com

Juel Rana Kutub, Lecturer

Faujdarhat Cadet College

Faujdarhat, Sitakundu, Chittagong 4616,

Bangladesh

juelrana63@yahoo.com

Vladimir M. Cvetković,

Assistant Professor

University of Belgrade, Faculty of Security Studies

Gospodara Vučića 50, 11000 Beograd

vladimirkpa@gmail.com

Shahnaz Huq Hussain, Professor

University of Dhaka,

Department of Geography and Environment Registrar Building, Nilkhet Road 1000, Dhaka, Bangladesh

shuqhussain@gmail.com

Рад примљен: 16.12.2016.

Paper received: 12/16/2016

 

Рад прихваћен: 18.1.2017.

Paper accepted: 1/18/2017

Abstract

Women are more vulnerable during disastrous situations compared to their male counterparts. It was noted in many studies that among all oth- er natural disasters, flood causes immense sufferings of women due to the low standard of living conditions and poor institutional arrangement in flood prone areas of Bangladesh. The geographical location and low elevation of land with numerous rivers make Bangladesh really vulnerable. The focus of this research is to explore women’s vulnerability at the community level and ways of coping with the consequences of floods. Both secondary and prima- ry data have been used and analyzed to identify vulnerability and the mech- anism of women’s coping with floods at Khidrachappur, Baradul in Belkuchi

Key words: geographical location, flood, flood prone areas, vulnerability, coping mechanism, gender

Кључне речи: географска локација, поплава, области угрожене поплавом, угроженост, механизми суочавања, пол

Introduction

Upazilla. The results of the study found that the consequences of floods have different impacts on men and women. In addition, it has been found that in reality, women are affected more severely and that their role is quite negli- gible in decision making, as well as their participation in training related to flood issues. Women suffer from physical injuries and are often evicted from their dwellings due to floods. Difficulties in finding adequate shelter, food, safe water, and fuel for cooking, as well as problems in maintaining personal hygiene and sanitation, prevent women from performing their usual roles at home. Despite this heavy burden, which women bear in extremely difficult circumstances, they demonstrate considerable fortitude and ingenuity in their attempts to cope with floods by taking several steps like selling assets, moving towards higher places, storing dry food, social networking, borrowing money, collecting safe drinking water and managing household activities etc. It was noted that despite all adversities, women can cope with the conse- quences of floods and show their resilience capacity.

Сажетак

Жене су рањивије у односу на мушкарце у време дешавања ката- строфалних ситуација. У многим студијама забележено je да су поплаве природна катастрофа која највише погађа женску популацију због нис- ког животног стандарда и лошег институционалног ангажмана у облас- тима у којима постоји високи ризик за настанак поплава у Бангладешу. Географска локација и нижа надморска висина терена са већим бројем река чини Бангладеш веома угроженим. Предмет истраживања односи се на испитивање рањивости жена и начине преживљавања последица поплава. Примарни и секундарни подаци анализирани су како би се идентификовала ова рањивост као и механизми суочавања жена са по- следицама поплава у Kидрахапуру, Барадулу у Белкухи Упазили. Резул- тати истраживања показали су да последице поплава различито утичу на мушкарце и жене. Такође, утврђено је да жене доживљавају озбиљ- није последице, да је њихова улога у процесу одлучивања прилично занемарена, као и учествовање у обукама. Тешкоће приликом прона- ласка одговарајућег смештаја, хране и воде, проблеми у одржавању ли- чне хигијене онемогућавају женама да обављају своје свакодневне ак- тивности у домаћинствима. Упркос потешкоћама са којима се сусрећу за време катастрофа, оне показују истрајност и ингениозност у поку- шајима да се изборе са поплавом па често предузимају следеће мере: продаја и пресељење у делове заједница на вишој надморској висиони, складиштење суве хране, позајмљивање новца. Без обзира на све не- даће са којима се суочавају жене су показале да су кадре да се суоче са последицама поплава.

geographical location, different types of land-

Bangladesh was ranked the second of the di- saster prone countries in the Asian region, as well as the fifth in the world according to the Index of World Risk Report 2013, aimed at its

scape and land features, monsoonal climate and immeasurable rivers [1–2]. Beside this, the over population, long coastal areas and its low elevation of land make it very vulnerable to risk and natural disasters. The land of this country is

universally recognized as a homeland of natural disasters, particularly river and coastal flooding [3]. However, the timing, nature, extent and se- verity of flood hazard are not equal in all cases [4]. This frequently catastrophic flood becomes a permanent disaster, which makes people suf- fering and where 40 percent of people live be- low poverty line. The pattern of flooding in Bangladesh also points to the increasing fre- quency of floods in river areas. The important aspect of flooding is that it causes the river bank

suffer because they lack pure drinking water, food security, and proper sanitation, and it also makes people suffer from different health prob- lems [13, 14]. Severe floods forced the short term population displacement [15].

Flood vulnerability and gender are strong- ly related in the context of Bangladesh [16]. Whereas, vulnerability is the susceptibility to damage in the natural or social systems and the ability to adapt a little to the changes in the

environment is severely inhibited.

erosion and this adverse di- saster is further worsened

Table 1. An alternative approach to vulnerability

                                             by Liverman [17].

when the devastating flood and river bank erosion to- gether intensify the process of pauperization in the river areas of the country [5–6]. The country experienced several severe floods like the floods of 1954, 1955,

1971, 1974, 1984, 1988,

1998, 2004, 2007 and oth-

er adverse natural disasters

Environmen- tal conditions

 

i.e. tempera- ture, rainfall, soil types, storms, ge- netic varieties and meteorolog- ical extremes

Technological conditions

 

i.e. the use of irrigation, reservoirs, genetically modified seeds and fertilizers, indigenous agricultural techniques

Social relations

i.e. social class, income, gen- der, race

and ethnicity

Demograph- ics and health

i.e. health, age, population density, populations growth rates

Land use and ownership

i.e. unstable land tenure, land produc- tivity, levels of indepen- dence, landlessness

Economy and institutions

i.e. lack of access to markets, artificial or inflated pric- es, lack of supporting social

safety net, debt

[7]. Several researches showed that series of floods created significant hardship for particu- lar households and also caused the loss of prop- erty, for those who are affected more as well as for the economically insolvent, such as in the example when 64% of area was inundated and 2380 people (mostly poor people) were killed during 1998s flood [8–12]). Global warming induced the flood disaster which makes people

Gender is socially fabricated casts, roles, opportunities, difficulties and connections as- sociated with being a man or a woman [18, 19]. Bangladesh is primarily a masculine country in the context of gender relations [19–21). On the other hand, it has been found in the study that, although flood disaster affects the whole society, it has a gender-centric dimen- sion. The poor rural women are affected more

 

Figure 1. Flood affected area of Bangladesh from 1954 to 2010. (Source: BWDB annual flood report 2011)

severely than the men are [20–22]. Women of Bangladesh are more vulnerable to floods, because they do not have proper and equal access to the basic rights like, the initial con- ditions of a person, the resilience of the live- lihood, opportunities for self-protection and social protection and social capital [16]. Na- tional flood management policies, adaptation measures, poverty, social position and estab- lished religious norms and values create an obstacle to women development and set them into the fragile condition during the flood di- saster [23]. Women have to perform different household duties and their socio-economic condition is always lower than men’s, which is also responsible for making them vulnerable in flood disaster situations.

 

Figure 2. Inundation map of the 2007 flood (Source: BWDB annual flood report 2015)

Methodology

The study intends to form an overall under- standing of women’s vulnerability and their coping mechanisms in flood-affected areas.

Primarily, investigation was done in Baradul Union, Belkuchi Upazilla Sirajganj District.

Belkuchi Upazilla of Sirajganj district has an area of 164.31 square kilometers located in between 2413 to 2422 north latitudes and in between 8937 to 8947 east longitudes. There are six unions in the Upazilla and Baradul union is the study area which is most affected by floods [24].

 

Figure 3. Map of the Study Area

 

Figure 4. Data collection methodology

Table 2. Population of Belkuchi Upazilla and Sirajganj

                                 District [24]

Belkuchi

Results and discussion

The current research finds the nature of

Population of Sirajganj District at a glance Upazilla

vulnerability and the difficulties women face

                                   population          during and after floods in Baradul Union.

1991

 

Population Census

Census 2001

Census 2011

Census 2011

Census 2001

What is following is the outline of women’s

Both sex 2264000 26,93,814 30,97,489 3,52,835 3,02,678

Male 1164000 13,97,863 15,51,368 1,79,738 1,60,265

Female 1100000 12,95,951 15,46,121 1,73,097 1,42,413

Urban 2,29,106 3,76,432 75364 0

vulnerability and problems of their involve- ment in taking coping strategies in flood prone areas in Baradul Union over the last ten years.

Other urban

92,147 60,145 0 20328

Socio-economic and demographic

Rural 23,72,561 26,60,912 2,77,471 2,82,350

Annual

characteristics of the flood affected women in Baradul Union

growth

rate

Literacy rate (%)

1.76 1.38 1.52 2.13

40.6 42.1 45.7 47

The research shows the age structure, edu- cational level, occupation with household and

Male 45.5 45.1 48.2 51.5

Female                35.4        39          43.1        42

Both primary and secondary data have been

personal monthly income, household month- ly expenditure, ownership of land, and con- trol over resources etc., which is based on the primary data collection from the respondents

used for the study. The target respondents for the study comprised women living in flood af- fected areas of Baradul union, Belkuchi Upazil- la, Sirajganj. Primary data were collected from flood-affected people in the study area of the Baradul Union, Belkuchi Upazilla, Sirajganj by using a semi-structured interview with a ques- tionnaire and focused group discussion. They are village women, civil society representatives and different government and non-govern- ment officials of the study area. The secondary data were collected through documents survey from various reports, research journal articles, booklets, planning documents and journals of respective Government organizations like Water Development Board, different publica- tions of different researchers, Meteorological Bulletin and publications of different disas- ter-based nongovernment organizations. It is so difficult to study all the people of the study area in terms of time and resource difficulties. The sample is proportionate to the population, which is taken to justify and make generaliza- tions about the population. Statistically, it is recommended not to use less than 30 people for each group of experiment. The total of 150 samples was taken out of 783 households.

through the semi-structured face to face inter- view with a questionnaire, FGD and observation. Among the 150 female respondents, 12%

are more than 60 years old, 48% are 45 to 59

years old, 25% are 30 to 44, 8% are 20 to 29 and 7% are 15 to 20 years old. Fifty-six per- cent of respondents are housewives and 8% are involved in small business. A significant percentage of respondents (about 25%) are involved in day labor whereas just 5% are en- gaged in harvesting livestock. Only 30% have completed the primary education, 19% have completed secondary school and totally 58% respondents are literate whereas 42% are illit- erate. About 12% of respondents are widows, more than 84% are married, 3% are separated and only 1% is unmarried in Baradul union. The ownership of land is limited in Baradul union; only 49% households have their own homestead land ranging from 1 to 10 decimal, 13% live on the neighbor’s land, 26% live on the government land, whereas 12% live on the pawned land and have to pay rent for using the land. Women have less ownership on the land, only 4% of the respondents have owner- ship on homestead lands. Women spend most of the income (nearly 91%) on family suste- nance; only 2% save for emergency, whereas

7% of money is spent on personal use such as purchasing cloth, medicine and other things. Women have less access to the resources than

Table 4. Types of flood-induced vulnerabilities

                         for women (n = 150).

Type Nature of vulnerabilities Yes No

 

men, 94% of men own the land and resources, whereas only 6% of women own the land and resources.

Human vulnerability

Physical injury 24.9 75.1

Shortage of food 88.6 11.4

Diseases 84.9 15.1

Malnutrition 91.4 8.6

Flood intensity and its damages

The geographical location and geological settings of Bangladesh are a suitable place for

Social vulnerability Unemployment 64.3 35.7

Harassment 34.6 65.4

Crime (burglary, robbery) 16.2 83.8

Lack of clothing 89.2 10.8

natural disasters. Floods are very common due to the low elevation of land and poor drain- age capacity of rivers. Each year about 844,000

Structural vulnerability

Problem with finding fuel wood

Eviction from dwelling place and destruction of house

83.8 16.2

60.5 39.5

million cubic meters of water flow into the

Damaged sanitation facilities 21.1 78.9

country’s three major rivers, the Padma, the Brahmaputra and the Meghna during the wet season (May–October) and inundate about 26000 square kilometers of land.

Damaged roads, culverts, embankment, and communication system

Unavailability of clean drinking water

98.9 1.1

84.3 15.7

The study area lies on the bank of the most treacherous river Jamuna (Brahmaputra). Sir-

ajganj district is an area of perennial floods

Agricultural vulnerability

Damaged crop production 24.9 75.1

Damage of poultry 71.4 28.6

Damage of cattle herds 64.9 35.1

and Belkuchi is the most vulnerable among all nice upazillas. The flood in Bangladesh always strikes in Sirajganj district. Some of the severe floods and their destructive nature are shown in the following table.

                   Damaged homestead garden    74.6    25.4

Women are suffering from human vul- nerability (physical injury 24.9%, shortage of food 88.6%, diseases 84.9%, and malnutrition 91.4% of women in the study area), social vul-

Table 3. Damage and losses due to the last four severe floods nerability (unemployment 64.3%,

                         in Sirajganj District [25].                        harassment 34.6%, crime 16.2%,

Duration

Highest

Affected Area    Affected population  Death of

shortage of clothing 89.2% and

Year

(days)

water level

Upazilla Union Family Population

causalities

fuel shortage 83.8% of women),

                                                                     recorded

1988	28	15.12m	9	82	268000	966000	512
1998	90	14.76m	9	82	312595	1809968	1038
2004	23	14.81m	9	82	430197	191565	43
2007	42	14.95m	9	80	229787	961314	34

structural vulnerability (Eviction from dwelling place and destruc- tion of house 60.5%, Damaged sanitation facilities 21.1%, Dam- aged roads, culverts, embank-

Problems women faced due to floods in the study area

The major impact of floods is death in Ban- gladesh caused by drowning, snake bites, wa- ter-borne diseases and diarrhea. Women of the study area faced lot of problems due to floods. The study reveals that flood damages agricul- tural land and crops, cattle herbs, poultry, fruit and vegetable gardens, fisheries, dwelling plac- es, food supply, transport networks, drinking water sources, sanitation etc.

ment, and communication system 98.9% and Unavailability of clean drinking water 84.3% of the women in the study area) and agricul- tural vulnerability (Damaged crop production 24.9%, Damage of poultry 71.4%, Damage of cattle herds 64.9% and Damaged homestead garden 74.6% of the women faced this kinds of problem). Women have less access to the own- ership of resources and also less power in the family decision making process in the study area. Poor decision making power of women is one the main reasons for flood vulnerability.

  Table 5. Role of women in household decision making

Items of decision making power Wife alone Husband Both

(%) alone (%)

Conclusion

Bangladesh is frequently affected by disas-

Education of sons and daughters	16	24	60
Family health care and treatment	38	21	41
Family planning
Loan Received and Use of loan	4	52	44
Purchase goods	21	35	46
Participation in society	12	60	28
Going alone outside	2	94	4
Choosing profession on their own	6	82	12
Inviting guests and entertainment	2	89	9
Repairing the house	0	98	2
Marriage of sons and daughters	0	94	6
Family expenditure	11	83	6
Involvement in cooperative or NGO	4	82	14
Vaccination of children	68	12	20

 

                                               (%)                ters, out of which floods are the most com-

mon; and Khidrachappur, Baradul is one of the most flood affected areas of Sirajganj district. Large portion of women in the study area are affected by flood-induced vulnerabilities, ex- periencing deficits in food, clothing, commu- nications, fuel wood, and increases in disease exposure, water quality problems, and sexual harassment. During floods some women face various difficulties and challenges. Particular- ly, women have to go through hardships be- cause they need fuel and food for their regular activities. Significant amount of respondents

Casting vote                        8          52        40   suffer from increased incidence of disease, in-

cluding cholera, dysentery, skin diseases, diar-

The root causes of women’s vulnerability in the study area are summarized by the follow- ing table, which states the reason for flood vul- nerability of women. Indeed, the vulnerability of people from the consequences of natural disasters affects a large number of demograph- ic, socio-economic and psychological factors [26–35].

rhea, and others. Apart from these difficulties, women experience specific types of economic crisis, poverty, and insecurity in Khidrachap- pur, Baradul.

Women’s coping mechanisms during floods in the study area found that women’s contribu- tions are vital to the sustenance of their fam-

ilies; these roles have not

  Table 6. The root causes of women’s vulnerability in Khidrachappur, Baradul.

Root Causes Dynamic Pressures Unsafe Conditions

 

been fully recognized. It is also found that women are

Limited access to:

• decision making power,

• social sectors and structures resources.

  Ideologies:

• lack of strong political systems at the community level,

• imbalanced distribution of economic resources.

Geographical location:

Lack of:

• strong local institutions,

• confined training

• inappropriate skills and knowledge of women,

• home based industry: cottage, threads, food processing etc.,

• absence of local markets (bazar),

• implementation rules and regulations,

• proper attitudes and ethical standards of people.

  Macro-forces:

• increasing population due to the lack of awareness,

• lack of forestation,

• lack of available soil for building houses,

• lack of productive land.

Public actions:

Fragile physical environment:

• dangerous location,

• river bank erosion,

• unprotected house made by soil and bamboo.

  Fragile local economy:

• low income,

• unemployment,

• food crisis,

• limited job, opportunity.

  Vulnerable society:

• special groups: women, children, elderly, disabled people.

  not only vulnerable but also resilient in the face of di- sasters. Most of the women in Khidrachappur, Baradul have developed their own mitigation and adaptation strategies like selling assets, storing food, collecting safe drinking water, mov- ing to flood shelters and other places, securing live- stock to reduce flood risks and rebuild homes, protect property, and ensure live- lihood security. But these efforts cannot produce the expected positive results without adequate support

  • located in river area,

  • frequent flood,

  • increasing Intensity of flood.

• lack of disaster preparedness or community participation,

• lack of cooperation of family members and community people,

from government and soci- ety at large.

                                             – prevalence of diseases.

The reality women face during floods is gloomy in the region. It was found that despite their heroic efforts, women’s contributions are not given due recognitions as they continue to fight with challenges. Though it appears obvi- ous that simple coping would not help women

much to reduce their vulnerability, raising awareness regarding the anticipated elements of risks and early warning could facilitate them to strengthen their approaches to coping with floods in Khidrachappur, Baradul of Belkuchi Upazilla.

 

References

1. Hirabayashi, Y., Mahendran, R., Koi- rala, S., Konoshima, L., Yamazaki, D., Watanabe, S., Kanae, S. (2013). Global flood risk under climate change. Na- ture Climate Change, 3(9), 816-821.

2. UNDP (United Nations Develop- ment Programme) (2004). A Global Report: Reducing Disaster Risk: A Challenge for Development. NewYork: UNDP Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery.

3. Karim, N. (1995). Disasters in Ban- gladesh. Natural Hazards, 11(3), 247-258.

4. Nasreen, M. (2010). Rethinking di- saster management: violence against women during floods in Bangladesh. In: Dasgupta, S., Siriner, I., Sarathi De, P. (eds.). Women’s Encounterwith Disaster (232-244). London: Front- page Publications Limited.

5. Elahi, K. M. (2001). Drought in Ban- gladesh: A Study of North West Ban- gladesh. In: K. Nizamuddin (ed.). Disaster in Bangladesh: Selected Read- ings (147-178). Dhaka: University of Dhaka, Department of Geography and Environment, Disaster Research Training and Management Centre.

6. Islam, K. M. N. (2006). Impacts of Flood in Urban Bangladesh, Micro and Macro Level Analysis. Dhaka: AH Development Publishing House and Community Development Library.

7. Mirza, M. (2011). Climate change, flooding in South Asia and implica- tions. Reg Environ Change, 11, 95-107.

8. Ali, A. (2007). September 2004 flood event in southwestern Bangladesh: A study of its nature, causes, and hu- man perception and adjustments to a new hazard. Nat Hazards, 40(1), 89-111.

9. Del Ninno, C. (2001). The 1998 Floods in Bangladesh: Disaster Impacts, Household Coping Strategies, and Re- sponse. Washington, DC: Internation- al Food Policy Research Institute.

10. Findlay, A., Geddes, A. (2011). Critical views on the relationship between climate change and migra- tion: some insights from the expe- rience of Bangladesh. In: Piguet, E., Pécoud, A., Guchteneire, P. (eds.). Migration and Climate Change (138-159). Cambridge, UK: Cam- bridge University Press.

11. Nasreen, M. (1998). Women in Di- saster: An Analysis of Division of La- bour and Survival Strategies in Di- saster. Dhaka: Academic Publishers.

12. Paul, S. K., Routray, J. K. (2010).

    Flood proneness and coping strate- gies: The experiences of two villages in Bangladesh. Disasters, 34, 489-508.

13. Roy, K., et al. (2009). Cyclone Aila (25 May 2009): Initial Assessment Report with Focus on Khulna Dis- trict. Dhaka: Unnayan Onneshan, Humanity Watch and NizeraKori.

14. Talukder, M. S. H., et al. (2008). Community Perspective on Water and Sanitation Towards ‘Disaster Risk Reduction’. Dhaka: Eminence.

15. Abrar, C. R., Azad, S. N. (2004).

    Coping with Displacement: River- bank Erosion inNorth-West Bangla- desh. Rangpur: RDRS.

16. Cannon, T. (2002). Gender and climate hazards in Bangladesh. Gender, Development and Climate Change, 10(2), 45-50.

17. Liverman, D. M. (1990). Vulnerabil- ity to global environmental change. In: Kasperson, R. E., Dow, K., Gold- ing, D., Kasperson, J. X. (eds.). Un- derstanding Global Environmental Change: The Contributions of Risk Analysis and Management (26:27- 44). Worcester, MA: Clark University.

18. Connell, R. W. (2002). Gender.

    Cambridge: Polity Press.

19. Ameen, N. (2005). Wife Abuse in Bangladesh: An Unrecognised Of- fence. Dhaka: The University Press Limited.

20. Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J. (2005). Cultures and Organizations: Soft- ware of the Mind. New York: Mc- Graw-Hill.

21. Saleheen, M., Huda, K. M. S. (2001). The Vulneribility of Women in Di- saster Prone Areas in Bangladesh. In: Nasreen, A., Hafiza K. (eds.). Disaster: Issues and Gender Perspec- tive, Conference Proceedings 2001 (96-100). Bangladesh: Geographical Society.

22. Thapa Man, B. (2001). Participatory Disaster Management Programme. Environmental Management and the Mitigation of Natural Disasters: a Gender Perspective. Turkey, Ankara: Report of the Expert Group Meet- ing, 6-9 November 2001.

23. Islam, R. (2010). Climate Change Induced Disasters and Gender Di- mensions: Perspectives Bangladesh. International Journal of Entrepre- neurship and Development Studies, Business Journal of Dhaka Universi- ty, 1(1).

24. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (2001). Population & Housing Cen- sus –2001. On http://203.112.218.65/ PageWebMenuContent.aspx? Me- nuKey=297, July 2003.

25. Khatun, A. (2013). Impacts of Flood Hazard on Human Life and Envi- ronment in Some Selected Upazilas of Sirajganj District. Doctoral dis- sertation. Bangladesh: Agricultural University.

26. Cvetković, V., Dragićević, S., Petro- vić, M., Mijaković, S., Jakovljević, V., Gačić, J. (2015). Knowledge and per- ception of secondary school students in Belgrade about earthquakes as nat- ural disasters. Polish Journal of Envi- ronmental Studies, 24(4), 1553-1561.

27. Cvetković, V. (2015). Spremnost građana za reagovanje na prirodnu katastrofu izazvanu poplavom u Re- publici Srbiji (Citizen preparedness for natural disaster caused by floods

    in Serbia). Doktorska disertacija. Beograd: Univerzitet u Beogradu, Fakultet bezbednosti.

28. Cvetković, V., Lipovac, M., Milo- jković, B. (2016). Knowledge of sec- ondary school students in Belgrade as an element of flood preparedness. Journal for Social Sciences, TEME, 15(4), 1259-1273.

29. Cvetković, V. (2016). Fear and floods in Serbia: Citizens preparedness for responding to natural disaster. Mat- ica Srpska Journal of Social Sciences, 155(2), 303-324.

30. Cvetković, V., Gačić, J., Jakovljević,

    V. (2015). Impact of climate change on the distribution of extreme tem- peratures as natural disasters. Vojno delo, 67(6), 21-42.

31. Cvetković, V. (2016). Marital sta- tus of citizens and floods: citizen

    preparedness for response to natu- ral disasters. Vojno delo, (in press).

32. Gačić, J., Jakovljević, V., Cvetković,

    V. (2014). Floods in the Republik of Serbia – vulnerability and human security. In: Đorđević, I., Glam- otchak, M., Stanarević, S., Gačić, J. (eds.). Twenty Years of Human Se- curity: Theoretical Foundations and Practical Applications (277-286). Belgrade: University of Belgrade, Faculty of Security Studies.

33. Cvetković, V. (2016). Uticaj de- mografskih, socio-ekonomskih i psiholoških faktora na preduziman- je preventivnih mera. Kultura poli- sa, XIII(32), 393-404.

34. Cvetković, V. (2016). The relation- ship between educational level and citizen preparedness for responding to natural disasters. Journal of the

    Geographical Institute “Jovan Cvijić” SASA, 66(2), 237-253.

35. Cvetković, V., Andrejević, T. (2016). Qualitative research on the readi- ness of citizens to respond to natu- ral disasters. Serbian Science Today, 1(3), 393-404.

36. Cvetković, V., Roder, G., Tarolli, P., Öcal, A., Ronan, K., & Dragićević, S. (2017). Gender disparities in flood risk perception and preparedness: a Serbian case study. Conference: Eu- ropean Geosciences Union GmbH

– EGU General Assembly 2017, Vienna, Austria. Hydrological risk under a gender and age perspective (19, EGU2017-6720: Session HS1.9/ NH1.18).