This year, flood-vulnerable communities have started facing multi-dimensional risks during the monsoon season. They’re already suffering socio-economic impacts from Covid-19, like loss of income and inability to shop for and access essential items. The impacts of floods on livelihoods will further accelerate such vulnerabilities and surely push numerous families into poverty.
The Global Flood Awareness System (GLOFAS) has issued a flood forecast with an over 50% probability of a severe 1-in-10-year flood submerging some areas of Bangladesh for a minimum of three days. Torrential rains in Bangladesh and therefore the upstream basins are causing rivers to overflow. According to disaster management authorities, over 1 million people across 13 districts have been suffering from flooding in Bangladesh since late June.
Multi-faceted danger
Flooding and cyclone season has begun in Bangladesh. At the end of May, Amphan swept through the country, killing 26. Over 2.4 million people were evacuated to permanent and temporary shelters before the cyclone hit, and over 200,000 houses were fully or partially damaged. Yet, the monsoon rains will prevail for at least a month. This year, flooding will magnify the socio-economic and health impacts of Covid-19.
The rapid increase of cases is already straining the limited health resources of the country. Bangladesh ranks 113th within the Global Health Index and has only 8 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Crowded living conditions in densely populated areas pose a high risk for transmission.
Two major sources of income for the economy, export of ready-made garments and remittance inflow, are projected to significantly decline. The national lockdown has also disrupted domestic economic activities in a country where 85 % of the workforce is employed within the informal sector, and one in three survive off of daily wages.
Increased unemployment and income loss caused by the coronavirus will make it harder for vulnerable communities in Bangladesh to prepare for floods and landslides this monsoon season. A new research has found that 72% of the population surveyed in Bangladesh were unemployed because of movement restrictions and workplace closures. The report, commissioned by the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance, and titled “Monsoon, floods and Covid-19: Building community resilience in Bangladesh” surveyed 15 Union Disaster Management Committees (UMDC) across three districts, home to 380,000 people.
All the surveyed UDMCs reported challenges in access to basic needs such as food, in a population where one in every three lives is in poverty, and half of the population is identified as being food insecure. UDMCs also observe competition to access essential services, with political affiliations influencing access in some cases.
Daily wage workers, such as rickshaw and transport drivers, masons, garment workers, small scale traders, and farmers have been especially impacted. These groups accounted for nearly half of the surveyed population. The report warns that floods and landslides from this year’s monsoon season will impact communities more severely because of economic stagnation and Covid-19 health risks.
Nearly 90% of the surveyed UDMCs perceive that individuals don’t seem to be aware of proper hygiene and sanitation practices to forestall Covid-19 transmission, including during flood events, although awareness activities are being conducted. Dissemination of information through leaflets and microphone announcements is critical for flood-vulnerable areas which lack electricity and internet connection. User-friendly messaging that guides the risks and specific prevention steps is critical for all people to practice necessary action.
All UDMCs have designated or pre-identified evacuation sites for flooding and landslides in coordination with the local government. These sites vary from schools, mosques, and embankments. This year, evacuation during flooding will be a major challenge as thousands of flood-hit people will gather in shelters with very limited space, and physical distancing won’t be possible.
Distancing in boats to reach the sites, as well as distancing in the embankments themselves, is a major challenge. Maintaining good hygiene is also difficult as none of the evacuation sites have handwashing facilities. UDMCs note their role in adapting the sites to consider Covid-19 but they need specific guidance on a way to do so.
A lack of guidance and support
Although UDMCs are tasked with considering Covid-19 in disaster management planning, only 13% have started to do so due to lack of specific guidance and knowledge. Members lack information on how to identify possible cases, refer such individuals to necessary health care services, and take preventive actions to mitigate transmission risk. UDMCs expressed discomfort and worry in taking the initiative of Covid-19 response during a disaster context due to lack of appropriate knowledge and protective equipment.
Lack of access to clean water and items for sanitation and hygiene, such as hand soap, is also apparent at the household level. 40% of UDMCs report lack of access to hand soap due to income loss, price increases by 10-15%, and limited supply due to supply chain disruptions and market closures. The monsoon rains and floods result in increased risk of water-borne and vector-borne diseases.
UDMCs note limitations to accessing health care facilities during floods and landslides. Health services such as vaccination programs have already been halted due to Covid-19. Vulnerable groups, such as people with chronic illnesses, may face further difficulties in addressing medical concerns during the monsoon season.
Coordination with local governments and health facilities is critical for communities to seek advice on how to enable access to health services. All surveyed unions do not have quarantine facilities, and isolation at home is the only available option. UDMCs expressed concern over community transmission without such facilities.
All these exhortations come as Bangladesh braces itself for extremely heavy rain, amid fears that the rising trend in water levels of major rivers might continue.
Flooding hit several northern districts in late June after heavy rain in the country and river catchments in India. Jamalpur, Kurigram, and Gaibandha districts were the worst affected, with some flash flooding also reported in the Sylhet and Sunamganj districts.
Since then, flooding has been reported in several other districts. In line with a report by Network for Information, Response And Preparedness Activities on Disaster (NIRAPAD), a total of 1,012,775 people have been affected and 221,158 households marooned. The affected districts include Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari, Rangpur, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Bogura, Jamalpur, Sylhet, Tangail, Rajbari, and Madaripur.
The first wave between June 26-July 7 inundated 12 districts. According to the forecast, the country will witness a second wave of floods from July 11, which will submerge 23 districts of the country. Districts expected to witness flooding are Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Rangpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Sylhet, Sunamganj, Netrokona, Kishoreganj, Bogra, Sirajganj, Jamalpur, Tangail, Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur, Munshiganj, Faridpur, Manikganj, Rajshahi, Natore, and Naogaon.
The flood situation may again worsen in the two northeastern districts of Sylhet and Sunamganj, with a break of just several days when the region witnessed short-term flood since last week of June, as the water levels of all major rivers in the upper Meghna basin started rising again because of the onrush of upstream water, together with heavy rainfall.
“Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has alerted that the people of low-lying areas in 23 districts are going to witness fresh floods in the coming weeks as water levels of the rivers Brahmaputra-Jamuna, the Padma, and the Meghna are likely to rise from July 11,” stated Minister for Disaster Management and Relief Md Enamur Rahman during an online press conference on July 9 after an inter-ministerial meeting on the flood.
In Bangladesh, UDMCs function as the local governance structure for disaster management, mandated by the standing order on disasters (SOD). Following the outbreak of Covid-19, the prime minister designated UDMCs to coordinate with deputy commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers, and conduct activities such as food distribution for vulnerable groups along with public hygiene and sanitation promotion initiatives at the community levels.
Over the last decades, UDMCs have played a vital role in helping to mitigate risks, especially during flooding. But unfortunately, 75% of UDMCs report they are not fully functional, mainly due to a lack of resources in personnel and budget. Many UDMC members also serve as members on other committees and do not have the time and resources to completely conduct the mandated activities for disaster management planning.
Although a majority of the UDMCs have supported Covid-19 awareness-raising campaigns led by the union parishads so far, UDMCs will need to work closely with local governments and related committees to be able to respond to both Covid-19 and disasters caused by the monsoon rains.
Without urgent action by the government and donors, the impact of monsoon hazards will compound the risks of Covid-19, and increase the possibilities of transmission in already highly vulnerable populations. Floods and their resulting impacts, like loss of housing, inundation of agricultural lands, damage to critical infrastructure including health facilities, congregated sheltering, and exposure to contaminated water, can further exacerbate the socio-economic and health conditions of communities already under considerable strain.
National governments and donors should provide existing information, education, and communication (IEC) materials on Covid-19 awareness and prevention to UDMCs to ensure that all people, especially vulnerable populations, have timely access to user-friendly communication materials, and understand the necessary steps for prevention.
Moreover, UDMCs urgently need support from upazila/district/national level disaster management committees to consider Covid-19 in their disaster management plans. Support and guidance is especially necessary on how to prevent crowding in transportation for evacuation and at evacuation sites, how to adapt evacuation sites to consider Covid-19, how to ensure proper hygiene and sanitation practices for transmission prevention in evacuation sites, and how to identify and provide health care to people with suspected Covid-19 symptoms during flooding.
Concern Worldwide, Mercy Corps, and Practical Action, members of the Zurich Flood Resilience Alliance in Bangladesh, assessed 15 UDMCs across three districts to assess the state of flood-vulnerable populations during the pandemic and provided recommendations for governments, donors, and communities to brace for the compounded risks of Covid-19 during the monsoon season.
Specifically, the government and donors must better prepare communities for the compounded risks of Covid-19 and also the monsoon season through activities such as building additional evacuation centres, informing communities about the way to prevent Covid transmission, and providing essential items like hand soap, water, and hygiene kits in evacuation sites.
They should strengthen the capacity of UDMCs, including personnel and funding support, and provide detailed guidance on how to consider Covid-19 in disaster management planning. Providing support to the most vulnerable populations and planning for livelihood programs that integrate disaster and climate resilience to strengthen communities’ abilities to withstand additional shocks and stresses must be in their priority list.
The Covid-19 crisis highlights the importance of existing governance structures, especially at the community levels, to prepare and respond in an emergency. Coordination mechanisms, networks, and operating procedures need to be prepared before a crisis to be effective.
The national/sub-national governments need to further support UDMCs so that they are properly staffed, budgeted, and functional to be able to respond to disasters and additional shocks like Covid-19. Surge support for UDMCs should be considered, especially for the monsoon season.
Plaban Ganguly is an anthropologist and development communication expert. He is currently coordinating the marketing and communications unit for an international development charity.
