Well-Being Losses from Coastal Hazards

This paper identifies the range of well-being losses caused by climatic hazards in coastal regions of Asia and the Pacific and reviews how these losses are measured for policy and practice. It draws on a targeted review of selected studies. The review identifies nine domains of well-being loss: food security, water and sanitation, livelihoods and employment, unpaid work, mobility and displacement, health and psychosocial well-being, safety and gender-based violence, cultural and social well-being, and ecosystem loss. Existing measurement approaches are not equipped to capture these well-being losses in a comprehensive, time-effective, and cost-effective manner. A case study on Cyclone Remal in Bangladesh highlights the importance of timely, sex-disaggregated data collection using customized rapid survey tools for effective and equitable disaster response, recovery, and resilience. The paper proposes a framework for data collection and recommends key well-being indicators. It emphasizes the need to institutionalize tailored rapid survey tools within national systems and strengthen data capacity and coordination to support gender-inclusive disaster response.