Floods in North Bengal: What needs to be done
Like any other problem, floods also have a relief aspect, as well as a remedy aspect. Right now, the relief aspect is the priority, as we have to save people, but in the long run, remedy is of prime importance, as we have to save humanity
Floods again, severe disaster again! Only a few weeks ago, the northeast part of Bangladesh, particularly the Feni-Sylhet region, was hit by serious floods. Even before overcoming that disaster, fresh floods have inundated the northern districts of the country.
With water levels of rivers like Teesta, Korotoa, Atrai, and Jamuna, as well as other rivers flowing over the danger mark, coupled with heavy rains for days, floods have taken a serious turn in the entire area of North Bengal. Within a short time, the lives of people in several districts and habitats have changed.
Today, millions of people in those areas remain water-trapped. The strong currents of the rivers have washed away houses and shelters, crops, and the valuable belongings of the people. The Aman paddy and different other vegetables on the field have been destroyed.
The rail lines have submerged under the water, the roads and bridges have been destroyed, and as a result, the rural transport system is in disarray. With the floods, there is a fear of erosion of river banks. Thousands of affected people are now living under the open sky, and one can hear an SOS all around: "We are sinking, please save us".
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Everywhere, all of us are distressed by the helplessness of the flood-affected districts of the country. Even though the flood water has started to recede somewhat, the air around the flood-stricken areas is thick with the cries of the affected people, their woes, and their helplessness. With the flood, there is a shortage of foodstuff, safe drinking water, clothes, and shelter. Has emerged to the whole country, there is only one simple message: "Save the people".
At this moment, wherever we are, whatever means we have, all of us must come forward to respond to this call. It is not an issue of charity, it is an issue of morality, of social justice, and of extended self-interest. We can neither put the onus on resource constraints nor can we remain indifferent. Because in the ultimate analysis, 'disasters do not disappear, even if we keep our eyes shut.'
In the context of the floods, three sets of actions need to be undertaken. The first set is in the immediate run. Two things must be done right now – one, shifting people to safer places. Lots of organisations, with equipment and human resources, have already come forward to transport affected people to safer shelters.
Two, providing food, safe drinking water, clothes, shelter, medicines, and other relevant goods and services to the distressed population. Relief materials must reach the affected people without any delay.
Those involved in the relief work must remember that only the materials that are immediately needed should be supplied to the affected areas. In the past, often tons of goods have reached the affected people, that they could not use under the circumstances or for which they did not have any use.
For example, in the given situation, dry foods are preferred to foodstuff that needs some sort of processing. Similarly, water-purifying tablets may be better suited for them rather than gallons of safe drinking water.
The relief work in the affected areas should be well-coordinated. There needs to be inter-ministerial coordination between the relief work of the government and other entities. The private sector should also be brought into the relief endeavour.
Often it happens that all the relief organisations cluster in one affected area, while others go unserved. Recently, it has been disclosed in different media channels that a large part of the relief money and the relief materials that were mobilised during the Feni-Sylhet floods have remained undisbursed. Can we not use them for relief work in North Bengal?
Secondly, when the flood water recedes, three problems will become quite acute in the medium term. One is shortages – shortages of food, shortages of jobs, and shortages of income. On all three fronts, actions should be thought through in advance. Food items must be provided to the affected people through emergency open market operations.
As crops on the field have been destroyed because of floods, various agricultural inputs, such as seeds and fertilisers, would have to be provided to the farmers well ahead of time. Planning for such measures must start as of now.
Similarly, in flood-affected areas, jobs can be created on an emergency basis through Food for Work or through different reconstruction work of damaged schools, roads, or culverts. Through the reconstruction of physical infrastructure in rural areas, employment would be generated, and the infrastructural base of the rural economy would be put on a solid foundation.
In the aftermath of floods, various waterborne and other diseases may break out.
At the same time, the continuing dengue epidemic in the country may spread more seriously in the flood-affected areas of North Bengal. Therefore, measures must be taken to provide water-purifying tablets, and other medical services to the people of the flood-affected districts and also to undertake mosquito-killing programmes there. Medical teams should also be sent to northern districts. In all these measures, children should be given priority.
As the flood situation improves, there will be rural-urban migration from the affected areas. For example, destitute people would migrate to cities in search of jobs and livelihoods. Policymakers should start thinking about how to meet the varied demands of these people—how to identify job opportunities for them, and how to strengthen the existing social safety net to protect them.
Thirdly, the flood syndrome must be tackled in the long run as well. Undoubtedly, there is an inter-country perspective to the phenomenon. Attention must be given to that at the state level. We have to think through whether bilateral discussion is enough in this respect or whether there is a need for a multilateral approach with neighbouring countries. Presently, the latter issue requires special considerations.
Right at this moment, Nepal, a neighbouring country, has been affected by widespread floods. The factors behind the Nepalese floods and their impacts are similar to those of ours. Therefore, there is no alternative to regional approaches to this multidimensional problem.
Bangladesh has already created a flood fund to tackle this disaster. Can it be expanded with more resource mobilisation as well as through collaboration with different international organisations? It should also have a formal sustainable base. Since in years, floods would continue to be a recurring phenomenon in Bangladesh, there are scopes for further thoughts on this issue.
I am neither a water expert nor do I claim to be a flood expert. Yet, with my common sense, I can understand certain phenomena. First, floods have occurred in this delta region for ages, and the incidence of these floods has acted, to some extent, like business cycles. For example, historically, after some small floods over a period of say, 5 to 7 years, a big one inundated this land.
The smaller floods have brought in alluvial soil and enhanced the fertility of our lands. Thus, when the losses of a big flood were spread over 5 to 7 years as against the enhanced fertility of the agricultural lands and the consequent increases in crop production, the net loss was not small. But with climate change, in recent years, the frequency of big floods has increased, distorting the above cycle.
Second, in the past, when big floods have occurred, they have washed away everything in 12 hours. In fact, they were referred to as tidal waves. And there was no waterlogging, and the water from such tidal waves quickly receded. In recent floods, that has not happened. The flood water remains stagnant for days.
Third, the rivers in Bangladesh flow from the north to the south, and as such, the water flow is also north-south. But over time, in many cases, the infrastructure of the country - dams, roads, highways - was built east-west. This has obstructed the natural flow of our river system, and as a result, the flood water has remained stagnant for a long time.
This has added to the woes of the flood-affected people. In cities, big high-rise buildings have ornamented the city skylines, but they were built on reclaimed lands from river banks, marshy areas, or covering ponds. Hence, even small amounts of rain create waterlogging in our cities.
Without the longer-term measures, the rampage of floods cannot be overcome in Bangladesh. Like any other problem, floods also have a relief aspect, as well as a remedy aspect. Right now, the relief aspect is the priority, as we have to save people, but in the long run, remedy is of prime importance, as we have to save humanity. Both would need sensitivity as well as objectivity.
Selim Jahan is the Former Director of the Human Development Report Office and Poverty Division, United Nations Development Programme, New York, US
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
