Introduction

Bangladesh is a disaster prone area. Several types of disasters attack us every year. Flood is the
most common and effectively dangerous disaster. It causes severe damages on natural resources
as well as human being. The impact of disaster can minimize by taking some steps, collectively
call ‘Disaster Preparedness’. Floods are the most common natural disasters. They are usually
caused by heavy rainstorms that overflow bodies of water or gather on certain sections of land.
Floodwater can gather slowly or quickly, as in a flash flood. Flash flooding is the most dangerous
type of flooding. This occurs when a man-made structure, like a dam or levee.
1. Risk identification
Bangladesh: Gender Mainstreaming Processes in Community-based Flood Risk
Management

1.1. Hazard assessment

In Bangladesh, household and community responses to extreme recurring events such as floods
are an indicator of the extent of their vulnerability, their level of capacity to cope with the event
and the intensity of the hazard. The better informed people are ahead of time, the better they can
prepare for the hazard and reduce the risk of damage in their community.

Flood preparedness is to a large extent dependent on two elements: first, the ability of relevant
national, local and community institutions to orchestrate communication; and second,
determining and prioritizing the content of communications on the basis of user needs and
priorities. The lead time of the traditional hydrologic forecasts is very short, and local people do
not understand danger-level terminology. There is no mechanism to relate forecast information to
user needs at specific locations.

Men and women have different capacities and vulnerabilities in regards to information
dissemination due to their different roles and conditions. Therefore, they are affected by disaster
differently. In many contexts, men are better connected to early warning mechanisms due to their
movement in public spaces and access to various channels of communication, such as radio and
TV, informal community networks and interaction with officials. Women have limited access to
information and knowledge related to disaster risks in their communities as they are more active
in the home and thus have less mobility in the community and understand hazards less. Women’s
voices are barely heard regarding risk reduction in policy and decision-making processes.

PROGRAMME / PROJECTS

In early 2004, the Centre for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS),
together with other national agencies, took the initiative to implement a project on flood
vulnerability, risk reduction and better preparedness through a community-based information
system in a flood-prone zone. It included an analysis of the impact of gender mainstreaming on
the flood risk programmed in relation to reduced vulnerability and risk. The objective was to
identify best practices regarding flood preparedness, information dissemination, especially to
women at home, and vulnerability and risk reduction.
The process began by organizing a sensitization meeting at a local government institute with the
participation of NGOs and the Disaster Mitigation Group (DMI) to identify men’s and women’s
needs. Research was carried out using interviews, questionnaires, focus groups and open-ended
discussions to identify their specific needs. The process was pre-tested in the field and then
implemented. There was a 98 per cent response rate for the household survey done by CEGIS.

As a result of this research, which was done in preparation for that year’s monsoon season, new
forms of communicating flood information were tested. The danger level for river flow was set
for every village. Flood warnings in the local language were prepared using different media,
including posters, photographs and audio tapes. These were selected as ways of strengthening
local institutions and providing access to information, in particular to illiterate people, regarding
such activities as evacuating cattle, crop and emergency food preparedness and organizing boats
for evacuation.

OUTCOMES

In the 2004 flood, men and women in the community studied benefited greatly from new
mechanisms introduced, such as the flag network, microphones in mosques and drum beating.
Some women in the community said that they are now trying to understand the flag network and
the importance of flood warning information.

MAIN OBSTACLES

• Forecasts not adapted locally: All of the men and women involved in the survey said that
they were unable to relate to the forecasts as they were not adapted to their local
situation. Either the language or the metric system was alien to their culture or the
information provided about the river water was not helpful on the flood plain.
• Gender disparity in information reception: In general, women receive very little
information in comparison to men before and during floods as they are busy taking care
of children, collecting drinking water, and preserving seeds, fuel, food and cash. Men
have greater access to warning information because of their interpersonal communication
with others and their access to radios and TV.

LOOKING AHEAD – SUSTAINABILITY & TRANSFERABILITY

In order to continue disaster risk reduction in other locations, two roles need to be successfully
fulfilled:

Community: The community is imperative to disaster risk reduction. Community members are
the key actors as well as the primary beneficiaries of disaster risk reduction.

Government: National and local government agencies must engage and encourage women to
participate along with men in implementing flood preparedness measures. They should take into
account the different roles and needs of men and women, while planning all stages of disaster
preparedness, relief, and rehabilitation. To aid this effort, gender mainstreaming in flood risk
reduction needs to be institutionalized.
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Data integration for flood risk analysis by using GIS/RS as tools

Findings of the Study

Following are the findings of the study, which have been found after the analysis and study of the
area;

 There is severe lack of land use planning in the study area high-class residential area is
located just on the river bank. There is no restriction on the construction of buildings
along the riverbank.
 Due to unplanned population growth the people are restricting the natural flow of water.
 Most of the low class residential houses are situated close to the river Jhelum. These
houses are very old which are expose to damaging during high flooding.
 Red fort, which is the cultural heritage of the study area, is located just on the bank of
River Neelum and adversely affected by flood during the flood and also during the
normal river flow.
 Government has constructed two mega projects in order to protect the high-class
residential area from adverse effect of flood. One is the embankment in the middle plate
just below the Red fort but it has no role in order to provide shelter to the red fort from
flood damage. Another project is with the collaboration of UNDP in the lower plate area.
Its primary function is providing shelter to high residential area of lower plate but it is
also using as hiking way for recreational purposes.

Flood hazard is destructive and frequently occurring phenomenon in the study area. Due
to lack of proper warning information about the flood hazard to the people living in the
flood prone area is not communicated effectively. Due to which affecters receive more
damages. Due to severe lack of land use planning in the study area, the community build
rather rebuild their houses not only close to the river bank. Hazard assessment and risk
mapping can prove very useful tool for advance planning, which is totally missing. No
importance has been given on this side. Even a computerized record of the data and
archive is not available in concerned offices. Although flooding is a natural phenomenon
we cannot completely stop it but we can minimize its adverse effects by better planning.
For reduction of vulnerability in the study area to flood hazard there is urgent need to
adopt long-term strategies by skillfully combining the engineering devices with proper
planning.

02. Risk prevention

2.1. structural prevention
 a. Vaccines for diseases:

 Oral saline

 Different antibiotic
b. Afforestation:
After flooding we should take some afforestation programmes are the following:

 Community afforestation

 Social afforestation
c. Disaster shelter:

 To transfer people &domestic animal in the safe place

 To reach sufficient food& drinking water

d. Earthling pole:

 To construct Earthling pole for people communication

2.2. Non- structural prevention:

a. Land use planning:
After flooding the land is more fertile. So we should take the following programme:

 Rice cultivation

 Wheat cultivation

 Verities of vegetation cultivation

b. Settlement planning:

 To construct house in the up land

 To construct high road

c. Building codes& guidelines

03. Risk Mitigation

At the present time about 130 million people of Bangladesh are facing a series of
environmental problems. Flooding is one water-related environmental problem.
Risk Mitigation for flood may be in two ways-Structural and Non structural.

3.1. Structural Mitigation

Drainage and Irrigation Projects Flood:
Drainage is used as a means to reduce the depth of flooding or eliminate it through 'controlled
flooding'. In 1964, a master plan was prepared envisaging 58 flood protection and drainage
projects covering about 5.8 million-hectares of land. Three types of polders were envisaged:
polders with gravity drainage, tidal sluice drainage and pump drainage. In 1993, the total area of
wetland was 3.14 million ha of which 1.55 million ha were cultivated and 1.38 million ha
drained through surface drains. In addition, the irrigated areas equipped for drainage represent
about 1.17 million ha. The flood-protected areas in 1999 were estimated at 4.62 million ha.
BANGLADESH WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD (BWDB) constructed a number of embankments,
barrages and canals. Some major flood control drainage and irrigation projects are described
below.

The Ganges-Kobadak Irrigation Project (G-K Project): Located in the districts of Kushtia,
Chuadanga, Jhenaidaha and Magura. It is flood control drainage and irrigation project covering
a gross area of 197,486 ha The project was started in 1954.
Dhaka-Narayanganj-Demra (DND) Project: Located between the cities of Dhaka and
Narayanganj and bounded by the BURIGANGA and the SHITALAKSHYA river. It was started in 1964.
Karnafuli Multipurpose Project: Located in the district of Rangamati on the river KARNAFULI.
It is a multipurpose project with the aim of generating hydropower and providing flood control
facilities
Coastal Embankment Project : Located in the coastal belt of the districts of Cox's Bazar,
Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Bhola, Barisal, Patuakhali, Jhalokati, Barguna,
Pirojpur, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira.
Tubewell Project in Northern Bangladesh: Located in Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts.
Initially, 380 tubewells of 254-mm diameter and an average depth of over 92m were drilled and
installed from 1962 to 1964.
Brahmaputra Right Bank Embankment: Located on the right bank of the TISTA and the
BRAHMAPUTRA. It aims at providing flood protection and gravity drainage to 240,180 ha, of which
159,000 ha are cultivated. The project was started in 1963.
Chandpur Irrigation Project: Located in Chandpur, Haimchar and Faridganj upazilas of
Chandpur district and Ramganj, Raipur and Lakshmipur Sadar upazilas of Lakshmipur district,
covering a gross area of 54,036 ha.
Meghna-Dhonagoda Project: Located in Matlab upazila of Chandpur district. The project
provides flood control and drainage to an area of 19,021 ha and irrigation water to an area of
14,400 ha.
Manu River Project: Located in the Maulvi Bazar and Rajnagar upazilas of Maulvi Bazar
district. It is irrigation; flood control and drainage project and covers a gross area of 22,580 ha.
Khowai River Project: Located in Habiganj district, provides flood protection to an area of
25,790 ha. A 40 km long flood embankment has been constructed from Habiganj to
Chunarughat along the right bank of the Khowai and a 47 km embankment up to Rajabazar has
been built on the left bank.
Tista Barrage Project: Located in the districts of Rangpur, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari. It
covers a gross area of 132,000 ha, of which the irrigable area is 111,406 ha.
Dhaka Integrated Flood Protection Project: Located in the western part of Dhaka city. The
main objective of the project is to provide flood security to the capital, to improve the urban
efficiencies and environmental condition, particularly for the urban poor and to promote long-
term economic development. In this project three executing agencies worked together.
3.2. Non-Structural Mitigation

Non structural measure suitable for reducing flood risk.Early warning, forecasting and decision-
making support to the management of flood event emergencies, must adhere to the following
scheme:
1. Real time data acquisition
2. Real time analysis,verification
3. Automatic rainfall forecasts based on the latest measurement
4. Automatic flood forecasts based on the observed measurements
Economic and environmental impact assessment for decision-making: The assessment will
comprise a multi-criteria analysis, in which all benefits and disbenefits will be listed, in order to
facilitate comparison of projects. As per guidelines for project assessment, the assessment of
large-scale investment projects implemented at national/regional level is purported to follow
multi-criteria analysis, which in fact will facilitate the integration of economic, social and
ecological considerations into a common format of decision making.
Developing more integrated flood control policies: The policy of the Government regarding
flood has gradually shifted from the narrow focus on flood control to flood management and
further to water management over 30 years. The Planning Commission of the Government of
Bangladesh makes five-year plans providing guidelines for all development sectors including
water resources sectors, as flood is the most important annual disaster of national scale.

4. Risk Treatment
Risk Control
Flood insurance as a measure of risk transfer can play a complementary role in the Government's
flood management scheme. It could help bring about efficiencies in all the aspects of disaster
management namely, relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.
It allows low income households to access liquidity after the floods, it curtails the distress sale
of their assets, it discourages migration into flood prone areas because of the presence of
structural measures, it encourages investments in disaster prevention if insurers offer lower
premiums to reward risk reducing behavior and finally it reduces the budgetary pressure on the
Government post-disaster.

The Centre is designing a flood insurance product in the Madhubani district of Bihar by
assessing hazard, vulnerability, distribution of values and insurable conditions to evaluate the
loss-frequency relationship.

For this product we are currently collecting the data on:

• Rainfall records for the region

• Water level and discharge level records
• Infiltration data
 • Effects of changes in land use in the catchment area
• Trends due to climatic change
• Effects of modifications affecting the river characteristics
• Data on siltation of rivers
• Topography of the site
• Stability of the banks
• Stability of the slopes
• Income shocks and economic loss to low income households due to floods

With this data, the product designed will be based on an index. An example of such a product is
the Mekong Valley project in Vietnam.

Risk reduction

A greater understanding of the processes that contribute to increased flooding propensity,

however, can help us mitigate the adverse effects on human lives, the environment, and the
economy. To mitigate flooding propensity in Bangladesh, both the GOB and the people will have
to shift their paradigms, as well as will have to adopt best management practices (BMPs) in
agriculture, forestry, land use planning, water resources management, and urbanization. The
BMPs pertaining to flood control are those activities that will help reduce the run-off, will
increase the carrying capacity of drainage system, and will increase land elevations with respect
to sea level or riverbeds. Examples of BMPs to reduce flooding in Bangladesh should include the
following features and activities: dredging of rivers, re-excavation of abandoned channels-ponds-
lakes, dispersion of dredged sediments to increase village platforms and road elevations,
conservation tillage, establishment of vegetated buffer zone along rivers, putting silt fences
around construction sites, building sediment retention ponds in construction sites, removal of
polders in the coastal areas to enhance sedimentation on delta plain, efficient storm sewer
systems in cities, planned urbanization, watershed-scale land use zoning maps, reforestation,
good governance, integrated regional water resources development plans that include
participation from India, Nepal, and Bhutan.

In most countries, Governments have responded to flood prevention mainly through structural
measures like construction of dams, river levees, and embankments. India accounts for 9% of the
total number of dams in the world. Studies have shown that the construction of dams often leads
to greater population accumulation in the flood plain as it provides people a sense of security
which results in greater need for mitigating flood risk and preventing economic losses in the
event of flooding. However, nonstructural measures like flood forecasting, warning system and
flood insurance to manage flood risks more efficient. These ex-ante mechanisms to manage
disasters are almost absent in the country. These mechanisms provide an incentive for
organizations working in flood risk management to take measures that mitigate and prepare for
the management of risk.

Risk Financing

Different Governmental organizations such as Bangladesh University of Engineering and

Technology, Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization, and the Bangladesh Water
Development Board normally investigate the flood conditions in Bangladesh. After the big flood
of 1987, a Japanese inquiry commission investigated the disaster from the aspect of meteorology,
geomorphology, hydrology, river engineering and sociology in order to be able to plan structural
and non-structural countermeasures (Muramoto 1988; Oya 1993). In 1988, Bangladesh
experienced one of the worst floods in living memory, which resulted in a total cost to the
national economy of approximately $2 billion, and it was estimated that 45 million people were
directly affected (Brammer 1990). The official death toll was put at 2379; the number of houses
affected was 12.8 million, including 3.8 million totally destroyed; and crop damage was 7.54
million ha (Sado & Islam 1997). In addition, the damage to the infrastructure was enormous.
Therefore, flood management is necessary not only for saving lives, but also for safety of crops
and infrastructure. Then a study team comprising a core group of international consultants
provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Asian Development Bank,
the European Economic Community, and the World Bank (Bangladesh government and UNDP
1989; World Bank 1989) and local experts investigated the flood damages and its remedy. In the
course of its work, the team consulted various donor country missions to Bangladesh. Different
donor countries have made extensive investments in the development of flood control works.

Response—each contains three processes:

Risk Governance
1 Establish and Maintain a Common Risk View
2 Integrate with Enterprise Risk Management
3 Make Risk-aware Business Decisions
Risk Evaluation
1 Collect Data
2Analyse Risk
3 Maintain Risk Profile
Risk Response
1 Articulate Risk
2 Manage Risk
3 React to Events

Risk Retention
Risk retention through maintaining & adopting various governmental, private & NGOs
insurances, catastrophic bonds, disaster fund & self insurance within a short period of time & in
the pre-disaster risk management.

Integrating environmental issues into flood management and control: In 1992, a guideline
for assessment was prepared by the Flood Plan Coordination Organization (FPCO), which brings
environmental issues into the national context of flood control under a decision framework.
According to the guideline, the economic analysis should be complemented by an assessment of
other impacts, in particular social and environmental effects.
Economic and environmental impact assessment for decision-making: The assessment will
comprise a multi-criteria analysis, in which all benefits and disbenefits (valued, quantified and
qualitatively described) will be listed, in order to facilitate comparison of projects. As per
guidelines for project assessment, the assessment of large-scale investment projects implemented
at national/regional level is purported to follow multi-criteria analysis, which in fact will
facilitate the integration of economic, social and ecological considerations into a common format
of decision making.

Developing more integrated flood control policies: The policy of the Government regarding
flood has gradually shifted from the narrow focus on flood control to flood management and
further to water management over 30 years. The Planning Commission of the Government of
Bangladesh makes five-year plans providing guidelines for all development sectors including
water resources sectors, as flood is the most important annual disaster of national scale.

5 year plans with guidelines for development: For example, in the fourth five-year plan (1990-
95), the strategy was to improve effectiveness of flood control and drainage schemes in their
crucial complementary role to economic development. Also in this five-year plan, emphasis was
made for the first time on environmentally desirable integrated development and full accounting
of externalities of flood control measures.

Better understanding of environment will help in flood control policies: The overall analysis
of the case studies reveals that it was difficult to achieve economic objective of the projects
without giving due consideration to the environment. In this respect planning studies of future
flood control projects should cover better understanding of floodplain environment including
hydraulic, morphological and ecological; round-the-year water management rather than focusing
on flood season; appropriate accounting environmental consequences; and ensuring people's
participation.

5. Disaster preparedness before disaster

Disaster preparedness may taken by several ways. Those are -
5.1. Risk Analysis
In the time of disaster several types of incident may occur. So one should prepare himself
/herself by analyzing the risk or problem which may occur during disaster. Problems are-

 Food and safe drinking water problem.

 Shelter problem.

 Transport problem.

 Health and Medicine problem.

 Replacement of domestic animal problem.

 Caring about child and old person.
5.2. Planning
In the flood affected area, every people should have taken the following planning all places at all
times:

 An emergency plan that every household member knows: The plan should
include information on how to shut off electrical power and natural gas sources, safe
meeting places out of the flood-risk area, an out-of-province contact, plans for pets
and livestock, and a neighborhood safety plan that identifies people who may need
extra help.
 An emergency supply kit: It contains food, water, necessary medications,
flashlights and batteries, personal toiletries, identification for each family member,
some cash and any important family documents. Be prepared to be on our own for
at least 72 hours, possibly longer.
 A battery-powered or wind-up radio: It allows our to access weather warnings
and disaster instructions from local radio stations.
 A plan for protecting home: And the tools and items our may need to do so
(wrenches for shutting off valves, plastic sheeting or sandbags).
 A full gas tank in our vehicle: It helps us for transportation.

5.3. Institutional framework

5.3.1 Responsibilities should reflect established expertise:

Emergency food and cash for work program is the one of use to give authority. If one sort of
measure to assist living beings to survive after the onset of a severe flood is to expand public
works construction, then the responsibility for implementing such expanded projects should be
with the relevant ministry.
5.3.2 Roles and responsibilities have to be clearly defined:

Who should be done what in case of move the process along will be tempted to make
compromises. While convenient in the short-term, too many compromises early on may make the
plan unworkable in the long term.
5.3.3 Roles and responsibilities have to be appropriate:

We must avoid imposing roles and responsibilities upon individuals or institution that will not
capable of implementing them in the future plan and risk mitigation. Without regarding the
political and social conditions of the country or the related region to assign roles and
responsibilities will not be proper for reducing future risk. Local institutions and the function of
local officials have important roles on the preparedness of flood management. So, they should be
regardable. About the infrastructure and socioeconomic conditions of flood prone areas local
officials and local institutions can build a framework for ongoing information updates for the
relief requirements.

5.4.Information System and Network

Information system and network is most essential time of disaster. Everybody should check radio
ad communication media. They also keep continuous connection with their relatives who live in
the safe area.

5.5. Response System and Mechanism

Each response depends on the nature of the flood. Some of the boarder categories of response for
a flood are-
 Evacuation procedure
 Search and rescue
 Security of affected areas
 Assessments teams
 Activating special installations
 Activating distributions systems
 Preparing emergency reception centers and shelters
 Activating emergency programs for airports, harbors and land transport

Once an effective flood preparedness plan is in place, these responses can be done
successfully.

5.6. Resource base

Resource base means the storage of necessary goods which help in the time of disaster. In the
case of flood the programmes which help to collect goods and service required to minimize the
damages of flood are coined below-

1 Disaster relief funding

1 Disaster preparedness funding
1 Mechanism for aid coordination
1 Stockpiling
5.7. Public Education and Training
Through a variety of public education programs that can create to aware the affect of the flood.
As education providers present warning systems & response mechanisms to the public they
should plan to learn from local population’s problems & gap that may exist in the plan.
2.7.1. Public education in schools: Children & young adults should include information
about actions which should be taken in case of a flood threats or occurrence.
 2.7.2.Special training courses: Training & special workshops should be designed for an
armed forces & as well as other citizen, either specially or as extra dimension of on- going
programs , such as literacy or cooperative.
2.7.3. Extension programs: community of village based outreach workers should be
trained to provide relevant information besides field level operation supports unit.
2.7.4. Public information: Timely passing the public information by radio, television,
printed media.

5.8. Warning Information

Warning system is so much important for disaster like flood. It convey message to people about
disaster. Warning information can be provided to people through various ways -

Through radio television.

Through newspaper.

Through direct announcing.

5.9. Rehearsal
This provides opportunities to the armed forced group to work more effectively in the time of
flood. So this type of rehearsal programmed should be taken to-

 Provide relief to the people.

 Rescue affected people from danger.

 Provide health support to sick people.

6. Disaster response
Disaster response is a phase of the disaster management cycle. Its preceding cycles aim to
reduce the need for a disaster response, or to avoid it altogether.

Emergency response teams need to be well trained in advance and their skills constantly
upgraded. Once the disaster strikes, it is too late to train or try to find missing expertise. Trained
staff should know their responsibilities, have immediate access to response plans and other
critical information, and already have built a working relationship with colleagues in other
organizations. The only meaningful way to test response plans is to carry out periodic emergency
exercises. These exercises are meant to simulate real emergency situations and test all aspects of
the plan. Costs are significant, but have real payback in an actual emergency. Often critical gaps
are identified and appropriate backup strategies developed as part of the exercise.
Evacuation:
• Identify areas to be evacuated.
• Identify sheltering needs and capabilities.
• Ensure that vulnerable populations receive a precautionary warning prior to a general
evacuation announcement.
• Contact American Red Cross or similar agency to establish shelters.
• Establish command post to coordinate evacuation.
• Alert local law enforcement, California Highway Patrol, and Cal Trans regarding
evacuation.
• Continue to assess evacuation areas.
• Identify destination of evacuees.
• Develop evacuation movement control procedures.
• Develop approach for controlling the flow of evacuees from threatened area.
• Specify travel routes.
• Close roads, airports, other pathways.
• Identify means to transport evacuees.
• Identify evacuation options.
• Identify modes of transportation to be used to move evacuees.
• Identify assembly areas for picking up people that do not have their own transportation.
• Identify methods for the movement of people without their own transportation.

Initial response:
• Declare local emergency
• Issue local emergency orders to include the following:
• Who will enforce order
• What areas order applies
• Relevant time period
• Place of evacuation
• Issue statement on jurisdiction’s policy for people that do not comply with evacuation
instructions.
• Assist animal care and control agency’s efforts to evacuate animals at risk during
catastrophic emergency.
• Identify facilities that may be used to house evacuated animals.

Other issues
• Restoration of critical service
• Response by sector
• Response operation support
• Requirement analysis
• Gender
• Accountability
• Development relief
 • Social exclusion

7. Damage, Losses and Need Assessment:

Principal for Response Planning:
The Government of Bangladesh (the Government), in coordination with non-government
organizations (NGOs), international organizations and bilateral donors, has rapidly responded to
the flood emergency and assisted the affected population. On 7 July, the Ministry of Flood and
Disaster Management activated emergency response committees at the local levels, and
established an operations center in Dhaka to coordinate relief activities. Emergency shelters were
opened at about 5,500 locations to house about 1.7 million homeless, over 3,400 medical teams
were mobilized, and 800 temporary health centers were established. To assist the floodaffected
households, the Government started the Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) program. The
Government has formulated a number of assistance programs for the affected people to recover
and restore their livelihoods. Many NGOs and the International Federation of Red Cross Red
Crescent Societies responded rapidly to coordinate relief efforts. They provided food, health
supplies and services, water, and other basic necessities to thousands of families throughout the
country. Most of these NGOs plan to continue supporting recovery programs. In mid-July, the
UN activated a Disaster Management Team to coordinate the activities of the various UN
agencies. The UN agencies provided critical emergency supplies to support the Government
ministries involved in emergency response and deployed a team to assist in the recovery effort.
The Local Consultative Group of development partners1 established a Disaster and Emergency
Response sub-group, which conducted its own damage and needs assessment in the affected
districts. Several bilateral donors have contributed resources for post-flood relief programs,
which have been channeled through UN agencies and/or NGOs.

Assessment Objectives:
The assessment objectives are given below:

 Identify the short, medium and longer-term needs of the poor that were specifically
caused by these floods, rather than the damage or losses.
 Obtain detailed information on the needs in each sector, to enable agencies to plan,
budget, and implement their relief / rehabilitation programmes.
 Report accurate, independently verified information to give a clear picture of new needs
created by these floods, on top of pre-existing chronic needs.

Need Assessment:
The devastating flooding in 2004 caused severe damage to infrastructure and other assets and
disrupted economic activities, inflicting heavy losses to agricultural and industrial output and
slowed down expansion in services. Based on the joint ADB-World Bank damage and needs
assessment, the combined losses to assets and output amounted to at least $2.2 billion,
constituting 3.9% of gross domestic product (GDP). The flooding also set back progress
achieved in poverty reduction, with the poor and the vulnerable suffering most in terms of losses
to crops, livestock, property and housing and reduced income opportunities. While the flood-
related damages to small-scale enterprises (SMEs), export-oriented knitwear industry, jute,
leather, and frozen food are likely to affect export growth, imports will come under mounting
pressures due to sharp rise in post-flood imports of food grains, medicines, and construction
materials. The widened current account deficit will deplete foreign exchange reserves, requiring
additional assistance to reduce the external financial gap. Current expenditures will exceed the
budgeted target for FY2005, with increased expenditures for relief efforts, expansion of food-
assisted safety nets, operation and maintenance of infrastructure, assistance to flood- affected
farmers for commencing production and manufacturing sector for rehabilitation and grants to
dislocated people.

Organization’s Role and Responsibilities:

o Develop, strengthen, and implement national food security policy and strategies.
o Establish, maintain and enhance a dependable national food security system.
o Prepare policy and operational procedures for the effective management of rationing,
procurement, pricing, and the import and export of food.
o Implement a quality control system for imports, exports and local food commodities.
o Manage the National food reserve, including developing policies, procedures and
guidelines for food stocking levels, and maintain adequate government stock reserves.
o Maintain an information database regarding consumption, price, imports and exports of
food-grains and other civil supplies.
o Conduct food planning, research and monitoring.
o Manage drought, famine and food shortage situations.
o Collaborate with key government agencies, NGOs, United Nations agencies and
programs, civil society and private business on food security, supply, distribution and
accessibility issues

8. Recovery
Early Recovery: Food: Flood affected area may undergo crisis of food.so Government should
emergence food relief. A food crisis looms large in Bangladesh by floods. This natural disaster
within four months has ruined the late-monsoon aman paddy, the second major cereal crop in the
country. As a result, food prices have soared and the government is finding it difficult to procure
rice.
GOB Immediate Response. The Government, in coordination with NGOs and international
organizations, has done a commendable job in responding to the flood emergency and assisting
the affected population. About 5,500 emergency shelters were opened to house about 1.7 million
homeless, over 3,400 medical teams were mobilized, and 800 temporary health centers were
established. To assist the flood-affected households, the Government started the Vulnerable
Group Feeding (VGF) program two months earlier than usual. The Government formulated a
number of assistance programs for the affected people to recover and restore their livelihoods.

Cash: To provide cash by Government & NGOs in the Flood affected areas.
Cloth: To provide sufficient cloth in the Flood affected areas for reducing Flood hazards. The
joint mission is proposing a phased assistance program to provide post-flood financial and other
assistance to Bangladesh, taking into account the need for long-term disaster management and
other development partners' efforts.

Water: To provide pure supply water, to set up high tube well, to use water purification tablet.

Medical &Livelihood: USAID/DART and IFRC field assessments noted that the Flood
particularly affected the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen. Interruption to these livelihoods
caused a ripple effect through secondary livelihoods built around fishing and farming, including
traders and day laborers.

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization is currently distributing emergency seeds and
agricultural inputs to support families in livelihood rehabilitation &provide medical treatment,
facilities for the affected people.

Medium term recovery:

o To provide emergency seeds

o To repair the tube well
o provide medical treatment, facilities

Long term recovery:

• To construct road
• To repair bridge/ culverts
• To repair house
9. Rehabilitation:
Sector wise rehabilitation
Food: After flooding sufficient food should be supplied by government and NGO`s to the flood
affected people.

Water and sanitation: To provide pure drinking water, supplying oral saline, rebuild
sanitation system.

Agriculture: Provide emergency seed, fertilizer and agricultural equipments.

Health: Flood affected areas people may face various health problems. So their needs to reduce
health problems by long term medical treatment.

Education: To promote public awareness about flood& to know its adverse affect for all
people.
Critical infrastructure:
Housing and shelters: To give Housing and shelters for Housing and shelters less people.
Environment: Tree plantation, repair surroundings environment.
Governance: Our government has distributed some relief for the affected people & some steps have taken for
mitigating flood & its adverse affect.

Economic recovery: Economic and social activities are disrupted as homesteads are
damaged, crops and fruit and timber trees are washed away, and associated agricultural jobs
which many landless people rely on is lost. Seasonal hunger further adds to the vulnerability of
those affected by the floods. So their needs assistant for Economic recovery by Government &
NGOs.

10. Reconstruction and Development

• Build back better

CHF works in partnership with local community groups, non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) and governments to enhance their capacity to respond to and mitigate disaster. CHF also
aims to deliver effective projects that meet the real needs of the rural poor households they serve.
CHF’s response to disaster is based on the fundamental idea that communities should not just be
rebuilt, but that they should be built back better — that is, in ways that transform the lives of the
poor and strengthen their resilience to disaster. Experience shows that the post-disaster recovery
phase provides a critical opportunity to close the gap between relief and development,
transforming disasters into sustainable development. Recovery projects can also provide
opportunity to introduce measures to reduce future disaster risk. CHF’s projects address risk
mitigation by incorporating emergency preparedness and response into its reconstruction efforts.
Participation and Partnership CHF’s projects are grounded in the Sustainable Livelihoods
Approach (SLA). SLA is holistic and participatory, bringing CHF, communities and local
partners together to identify and strengthen assets and overcome the challenges that hinder their
growth and development. CHF has a long history of working through local organizations and
continues to do so to implement effective post-disaster programming. We support our local
partners to take the lead in implementation, with CHF providing capacity building support where
required.

Infrastructures
Housing: Take pictures of the damage, both of the building and its contents, for insurance
claims. Examine walls, floors, doors, staircases, and windows to make sure that the building is
not in danger of collapsing.

Transport:
 Avoid walking through flooded areas – particularly during a flash flood. As little as 6
inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Also, the water may be
contaminated with oil, gasoline, or raw sewage.
 Never let children play outside during a flood event.
  Closely watch out for downed power lines and electrical wires. Electrocution is another
major cause of deaths in floods because electrical current passes easily through water.
Report downed lines to the utility company immediately.
 Watch out for snakes and other animals.
 Be especially cautious at night when it is harder to recognize flood dangers.

Power: Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety. Use battery-
powered lanterns or flashlights when examining buildings. Battery powered lighting is the safest
and easiest, preventing fire hazard for the user, occupants, and building.
Telecommunication: Media and public information sessions help set the stage as well. The
media are key players in the link between public officials and the public. It helps if they are
familiar with the terminology used in warnings and forecasts and know whom to contact for
more detailed information during an actual flood event. Listen continuously to a NOAA Weather
Radio or a portable, battery-powered radio or television for updated emergency information.

Water supply and sanitation: Check for sewage and waterline damage. If you suspect sewage
lines are damaged, avoid using the toilets and call a plumber. If water pipes are damaged, contact
the water company and avoid using water from the tap. You can obtain safe water from
undamaged water heaters or by melting ice cubes. If water is of questionable purity, boil or add
bleach, and distill drinking water before using. Wells inundated by floodwaters should be
pumped out and the water tested for purity before drinking.

Embankment water management: The water storage effect of vegetation, soil, shallow
groundwater, wetlands and drainage has a direct impact on the flood level in downstream areas.
Each of these storage media retain certain quantities of water for various periods of time and can
influence the timing of tributary flows and hence their contribution to a flood event.

• Social service sector

The long-term economic and social implications of flooding become evident in the post-disaster
period. Governments need to demonstrate leadership and sometimes take bold steps to restore
employment, address social issues and move the economy in a new direction. In that sense,
natural disasters can be a positive motivator for change.
Education: Senior levels of government should develop clearly defined response policies and
programmes in advance. In the absence of such policies, the response is often ad hoc, politically
and emotionally motivated, and sets precedents that are not wise in the longer run.
Health and Nutrition: If indicated, seek necessary medical care at the nearest hospital or clinic.
Contaminated flood waters can lead to very serious infections.

• Productive sectors
Agriculture Industry
Commerce
Tourism

• Environment: For flooding events, there is a need to calculate the probability or

likelihood that an extreme event will occur and to establish an estimate the social,
economic and environmental implications should the event occur under existing
 conditionsThis overall process assists the community in better understanding the various
actions that can increase or decrease risk exposure, and can lead to greater community
participation in the developed.
•
11. Conclusion
Floods are one of the most common hazards in our country. So we should know of its
preparedness. How can we prepare before flooding? Preparedness of flood helps to reduce future
risk.

12. Reference
1. Class lecture
2. www.google.com
3. www.wikipedia.com