This policy brief aims to bring on-the-ground realities and community voices into the global policy discourse to better understand the real challenges faced by those making 'migration decisions' to cope with and recover from climate disasters, and to advocate for rights-based, community-driven, bottom-up durable solutions. The analysis is based on findings from our longitudinal research in the Sundarbans region, mainly in Khulna and Satkhira districts of Bangladesh, conducted since 2018. This brief analyses the lived experiences and testimonies of climate-induced migrants, left-behind families and communities, as well as information gathered through surveys and observations. Through the testimonies and other data, it explains the cascading risks and harms that people suffer in the absence of adequate policy support and resources for locally-led, rights-based, community-driven solutions. It calls for urgent action to build resilience and empower grassroots and community-led organisations with access to resources to address these challenges.