BBHS CASE STUDY - Bangladesh - The causes and impacts of the 1998 Flood

Bangladesh - Fact File

• is one of the world's most densely populated countries!

• has a population of 125m inhabitants

• is one of the poorest countries in the world with a GNP of $200 per head

• has three of the world's most powerful rivers passing through its country - The Ganges, the Meghna & the Brahmaputra

• contains virtually no raw materials or rock

• experiences floods and tropical storms every year

The Physical Causes of the Floods

• Most of the country consists of a huge flood plain and delta

• 70% of the total area is less than 1 metre above sea level

• 10% of the land area is made up of Lakes and Rivers

• Snowmelt from the Himalayas takes place in late spring & summer

• Bangladesh experiences heavy monsoon rains, especially over the highlands

• Tropical storms bring heavy rains and coastal flooding

• The main cause was the above average & long period of heavy rain which caused all 3 rivers to have their peak flow at the same time!!!

 
The Human Causes of the Floods

• Deforestation in Nepal and the Himalayas increases run off and adds to deposition and flooding downstream

• Urbanisation of the flood plain has increased magnitude & frequency of floods

• the building of dams in India has increased the problem of sedimentation in Bangladesh

• Global warming is blamed for sea level rise, increased snow melt & increased rainfall in the region

• Poorly maintained embankments (levees) leak & collapse in times of high discharge

The Effects of the 1998 Floods

• Over 57% of the land area was flooded

• Over 1300 people were killed

• 7 million homes were destroyed

• 25 million people were made homeless

• There was a serious shortage of drinking water & dry food

• Diseases spread such as bronchitus and cholera/diarrhoea

• As the waters receded - it left fields of rotting crops, wrecked roads and bridges and destroyed villages

• 2 million tonnes of rice was destroyed

• 1/2 million cattle and poultry were lost

• Overall the floods cost the country almost $1 billion

Flood Management in Bangladesh

In 1989  the government of Bangladesh began working with a number of international agencies to produce a Flood Action Plan. This huge scheme contained 26 action points which it was hoped would provide a long term solution to the country's flooding problems.

Short Term Management

• Boats to rescue people

• Emergency supplies for food, water, tents and medicines

• Fodder for livestock

• Repair and rebuild houses, as well as services such as sewage etc

• Aid from other countries

Long Term Management

• Reduce Deforestation in Nepal & Himalayas

• Build 7 large dams in Bangladesh to store excess water $30-$40 million and 40 yrs to complete

• Build 5000 flood shelters to accommodate all the population

• Build 350km of embankment - 7 metres high at a cost of $6 billion to reduce flooding along the main river channels

• Create flood water storage areas

• Develop an effective Flood Warning Scheme