Photo : Messenger
Comprehensive disaster management is very important in floodplain countries such as Bangladesh. Every year, marginalised communities living in these regions have to face multiple disasters, including cyclones, storm surges, flash floods, monsoon floods, and droughts. Fighting through floods comparatively takes a lot more time and patience than other disasters. River erosion is another problem, happening right before and after each flood, destroying homes and livelihoods in the process.
Regular disasters are an obvious hindrance to the progress of the country. Residents of about 10 districts lose their homes and assets to floods and river erosion as quickly as they rebuild them. However, with early warning and proper management, disaster damage can be greatly reduced. Being able to reduce losses due to disasters will contribute to the country's progress and development.
Life comes to a standstill for flood-affected people, mostly during the July–August period. Homes, yards, lands—water is everywhere then. They remain busy saving their lives and their families. They leave their home to seek safe shelter.
While seeking safe shelter, many types of accidents occur. Not everyone in the char (river island) has a boat. Therefore, they must wait for a rescue boat or someone else's boat. During this time, many livestock get washed away by the floodwaters. Even small children, boys, girls, and the elderly can drown or be swept away by the floodwaters. When the area is flooded, the infestation of snakes and insects increases. During this time, the rate of death due to snake bites in the char areas is higher.
Typically, flood-affected people take refuge on river embankments. From the char or remote areas, they must take shelter on these embankments. There, they live in a dirty and unhygienic environment with very little space for their livestock. They have to stay in this filthy environment, away from their homes. It becomes difficult to provide food for themselves three times a day and fodder for their livestock. Due to the lack of food, they often have to sell their livestock and poultry. In this way, the people of the flood-affected areas become almost destitute.
Plants, vegetables, and crops are destroyed by floods. Food for cattle also remains in dire shortage, even though cattle and poultry are some of the main sources of income for these marginalised communities in the Jamuna-Brahmaputra char lands. Protecting these sources of income and food during floods is too difficult. Without safe shelter and food, these communities end up having to sell their cattle and poultry at very low money prices.
Marginalised farmers who rear poultry or livestock face severe challenges during floods. Because when the water suddenly comes, their farms and assets are washed away. It can be said that small and medium entrepreneurs in marginal areas go from being wealthy to being destitute. In this way, seasonal floods deliver a significant blow to the local economy.
It is very difficult for the people of the chars, who are cut off from the mainland, to become economically self-sufficient. There are no banks or insurance facilities here. They cannot save money by rearing poultry, cows, or goats. The people of the chars have no opportunity for savings to cope with adverse conditions. Therefore, during major disasters like floods, they have to take loans.
Another big challenge for the residents in flood-affected areas is safeguarding children. Along with shelter, it is important to ensure clean and safe water for them. Otherwise, stomach diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera are likely to spread quickly. It is also important to ensure adequate accommodation for infants, children, and adults with special needs during floods.
It is time for us to think about flood and flood management. Every year, the magnitude and severity of cyclones, storm surges, and floods are increasing. Ensuring safe and clean water during such disasters is still a challenge. Fresh drinking or usable water sources, such as ponds and tubewells, get contaminated during floods. Water tanks get washed away, or the water becomes polluted.
We are doing well in implementing the Delta Plan and disaster management. Along with awareness, local communities are trying to adapt to the disasters in their own way. Now, we need to involve local knowledge in national planning and to further enhance their practical knowledge of disaster response and preparedness. Therefore, an integrated plan to deal with climate change and its impacts is essential for the survival of marginalised people, be it in the haors or the chars.
The writer is Senior Director & Head of Inclusive Citizenship, FRIENDSHIP.
Messenger/Fameema
