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Impacts of Flash Flood on Livelihood and Adaptation Strategies of the Haor Inhabitants: a Study in Tanguar Haor of Sunamganj, Bangladesh

Joynal Abedin
Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Hafiza Khatun
Department of Geography and Environment, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study evaluates the impacts of flash flood (especially 2017 massive flash flood) and explores prevailing adaptation strategies taken by haor inhabitants to subdue the impact. Primary data were collected through field visit, questionnaire survey, FGD and KII. A purposive random sampling method was applied for selecting 350 households from 10 villages located in and around Tanguar Haor. The inhabitants of low-lying haor areas are extremely vulnerable to flash flood. Their coping mechanism has been strictly curved by a number of social, economic, and political factors, leading to vicious circle of debt and poverty to mohajon (money lender) and micro credit institution, perennial marginalization from haor resources by influential groups and subsequent dependency on wealthy neighbors or relatives. The haor indigent community lives with flood, suffers a loss of income and living, confronts it with food shortage and malnutrition, and survives with the circumstances by bearing considerable debt with high interest rates. This vicious circle of debt, resource loss and poverty act as a dynamic force towards their long-lasting paucity and vulnerabilities, which curve their capability to get ready, take action, and recuperate from subsequent floods, as well as any other disasters. Government should formulate combined and effectual haor management and flood management policy and implemented suitably to shield lives and livelihoods of haor inhabitants.

Keywords: Flash flood, Tanguar Haor, Adaptation strategies, Livelihood, Women’s role

Location: Sunamganj District, Bangladesh.

Start Date: 00-10-2018

End Date: 00-11-2018

Program Area: Resource Development and Management

Non-commodity: Livelihood

Objectives:

To expose ground-level information of flash flood impact and dynamism of flood and inhabitants of the low-lying haor area.

Methodology:

This research includes both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through multiple methods, including field observation, transect walks, questionnaire survey on 350 households, five oral history interview, focus group discussion (FGD) from ten different villages, thirty (three from each village) key informant interview (KII). To know the impact of flash flood on socio-economy of the study area detailed exploratory field investigations were done in between October-November 2018. Before starting data collection, transect walks were conducted both within the village and within haor area to identify haor people’s problem with flash flood hazards. Household data along with loss assessment and adaptation strategies before, during and after the flash flood were collected through semi-structured questionnaire from directly affected ten villages, selected through purposive sampling method under two upazilas (Dharmapasha and Tahirpur) of Sunamganj District. The villages were selected based on physiography, population size, ethnic minority, proximity to market and 2017 flash flood severity. Tanguar Haor is located in the northeastern part of Bangladesh with coordinates about 25°N latitudes and 91°E longitudes. Geographically it is surrounded by Meghalaya State of India to the north, Netrokona District to the west and south and Patnai and Baulai River to the east. The haor is situated at an altitude of 2.5-5.5 meters above sea level. The haor consisting of 50-55 beels of various sizes contain water in dry months (Kabir and Amin, 2007).

Source of Information: The Dhaka University Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Vol. 8(1), 2019, P 41-51

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: https://doi.org/10.3329/dujees.v8i1.50757

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The present research explores direct and indirect impacts of flash flood and reveals existing adaptation strategies adopted by low-lying haor inhabitants to reduce the effects. It is found that flooding especially flash flooding has complex and multiple impacts on socio-economic structure of haor inhabitants and bucolic indigent. Most vulnerable groups are poor peasants, pregnant women, aged citizens, children etc. and during flash flood their most effective strategy is to practice indigenous knowledge and experience of retrospective floods and ultimately reliance on mohajans, neighbor and relatives. Flash flood recovery mostly depends on strength of income, as the poor inhabitants lost their housing, crops, and valuable assets at the first instances of flash flood which ultimately limited their coping strategy. Due to occupation loss, resource damage and income instability, haor inhabitant’s endeavor to improve from direct economic loss frequently results in additional indirect property losses which eventually poses a vicious circle of debt and poverty. Farmers’ recovery from flash flood disasters is largely constrained by limited resources or inputs and poverty. This cycle of debt and poverty consequently make the indigent community vulnerable for successive disaster recovery. Constraints for poor permanent and seasonal fishers are existing leasing policy and unparalleled power structure, which restrict their extraction of haor resources at multiple stages. The role of the women’s are always invisible but this study found that, women’s role during and after flash flood are diversified (i.e. healthcare, food processing, cleaning, rearing and bearing of children, aged, and livestock) and their endeavor to protect and reduce the damage of the household are very effective. As flash flood is a sudden and catastrophic phenomenon that’s why flash flood related problems affects rural women more acutely than men. Rural poor women have wider responsibilities which ultimately remain them busy with their family more rigorously and more efficiently than those of their male counterparts. In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) and vision 2041 announced by the Bangladesh government, it is imperative to provide additional focus on haor community and its resources.

Knowledge Management: Journal