Overview of Flash Flood, April 19, 2017
7
Overview of Flash Flood, April 19, 2017 Heavy rainfalls as well as onrush of water from the upstream Meghalaya hills in India have led to the inundation of a vast areas of croplands of Haors and low-lying areas of the northeast. Flood started on 28 th March affecting six districts (Sylhet, Moulavibazar, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona and Kishoreganj) in the north east region. Rising water overflow and breeched embankment in many places and inundated vast areas of croplands. It destroyed nearly-ready-for-harvesting boro rice in about 160,170 hectors areas (details information in table 1). Flash Flood Situation, April 19, 2017 Prepared in: April 13, 2013 Source: DDM Reports and National Dailies
Transcript of Overview of Flash Flood, April 19, 2017
Overview of Flash Flood, April 19, 2017
Heavy rainfalls as well as onrush of water from the upstream Meghalaya hills in India have led to the
inundation of a vast areas of croplands of Haors and low-lying areas of the northeast. Flood started on
28th March affecting six districts (Sylhet, Moulavibazar, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona and
Kishoreganj) in the north east region. Rising water overflow and breeched embankment in many places
and inundated vast areas of croplands. It destroyed nearly-ready-for-harvesting boro rice in about
160,170 hectors areas (details information in table 1).
Flash Flood Situation, April 19, 2017
Prepared in: April 13, 2013 Source: DDM Reports and National Dailies
Impact of Flash Flood
This flood caused huge damage to crop production. According to Ministry of Agriculture, the loss of
Boro rice is estimated to be about 800,000 tons.
Flow Chart of impact:
Detailed impact scenario:
As noted in the table above, Sunamganj district has been affected most extensively. The Department
of Agricultural Extension of Sunamganj has published the details of crop damage in the district (see
table below).
Table 2: Detailed impact of flash flood in Sunamganj district
Upazila Total area under boro cultivation
(Hec.)
Remark
Sadar 16,200 10,300 Tolakhalu and Teukhali embankment were damaged
Tahirpur 18,400 7,610 Alamkhali, Doronbadh and Mahalia were affected
South Sunamganj 22,275 5,560 Shallardair embankment was damaged
Jagannathpur 20,207 12,190 Burakhali, Tanguar, Betauka, Falgida, Demakhali and Katagang embankment collapsed and water logged
Table 1: Impacts of flash flood, 2017
Location Impact on Agriculture (Hec.)
Source
Kishoreganj 06 23,300 Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Kishoreganj (Dhakatribune.com); April 08, 2017
Habiganj No. of affected upazila not available
13,500 Agricultural Authorities of Habiganj
Sylhet 13 Damage information not available
-
12,800 DDM report; April 01, 2017
Sunamganj 11 91,690 Report on damage of Boro crops due to excessive rain, flash flood and embankment collapse, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE),
Sunamganj; April 04, 2017 Total 160,170
Rising river water overflowed and breached embankment
160,170 Hectare cropland inundated1
Food security decline
Coping: farmers - use savings, low interest loans, deplete assets/sell product at lower price and reduce consumption of non-essential products4
Coping: day labor - use reduction in essential consumption, help from friends, and high interest loans4
1 Source- Reports of DDM, DAE April 01, 04 and 05, 2017, national dailies (the daily Star, Dhaka Tribune, Daily Janakantha, Samakal, April 08, 12 and 13, 2017. 2 Estimated production of 4 T per hectare as suggested by the Ministry of Agriculture 3 Estimated 120 person/day for harvesting boro rice from one hectare of crop field (Consultation with local farmers). 4 Final Draft National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) of Bangladesh 2015
Table 2: Detailed impact of flash flood in Sunamganj district
Upazila Total area under boro cultivation
(Hec.)
Remark
Dirai 28,000 6,740 Kadirpur, Tufankhali, Baram, Tangni and Boishakhi embankment were damaged
Shalla 22,000 2,120 Joaria embankment were damaged
Doara Bazar 13,680 6,930
Chatak 14,240 9,830 Water logged due to damage of Lakhsmibaul embankment
Jamalganj 25,190 6,010 Water logged due to damage of Kalibari Point
Biswamvarpur 11,090 5,790 Gondamara and Jiragtaherpur embankment collapsed
Total 229,082 91,690
Estimated total loss of potential rice crop 354,840 MT; and in monetary terms estimated loss amounted to BDT 10,645.2 million
Source: Department of Agriculture Extension, Sunamganj, April 04, 2017
Also, according to the SOS form complied by Upazila Project Implementation Officer, Mohanganj,
Netrokona, (SOS form, April 04, 2017), in the upazil, total 18,000 families have been affected due crop
damage in 8,500 hectare of boro land.
GoB Response in Flash Flood, 2017
The Government’s assistance to the flood affected people included cash grant, food aid and other
materials. DDM report on Government response is given below:
Table 3: Government response in flash flood, 2017
Districts Response
Sylhet 500 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 1,000,000 G.R. cash have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Sunamganj 60,000 M.T, of G.R. rice, BDT. 255,000 G.R. cash and 185 bundle of Corrugate iron sheet have been stored in Sunamganj district
Habiganj 50 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 100,000 G.R. have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Kishoreganj 100 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 200,000 G.R. cash is sent. 100 MT. G. R. rice have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Netrokona 100 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 500,000 G.R. cash is sent. BDT 1.0 million have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Moulavibazar 50 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 100,000 G.R. cash have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Source: DDM Reports, April 05 and 07, 2017
In April 12, 2017, Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) in collaboration with Water
Rights Forum organized a roundtable on this issue at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital. In the
roundtable, farmers from different haor (a type of wetland) areas suggested that the riverbeds were
silted and the initiatives to reconstruct the embankment were most inadequate. Also, they suggested
that the crisis was manmade, because, it occurred, largely, due to the financial mismanagement and
corruption leading to failure reconstruct the embankments on time.
Recommendations
ALRD the proposed that the government should supply through open market at BDT 10 per kg in the
affected regions and continue the assistance till the next rice harvest.
Although, the people in the affected district currently may have some food stock from the last year’s
harvest, food security is likely to decline rapidly in next few weeks’ time. Therefore, it is essential that,
GoB starts large scale food GR food distribution as well, intervene through Cash for Work to
compensate for the loss of employment of the agricultural labors.
It is also been suggested that, the flooded haor areas can be opened up for fishing on basis of the
demands of affected people.
Conclusion
Floods in these haor areas caused huge damage to boro crop. Since the area significantly contributes
to the national food production, overall food security of the country may experience negatively as a
consequence. Whatever the reason is, focuses should be on helping the affected people to cope with
the losses.
Media Coverage
Flash flood in the Haors may worsen rice price hike Traders believe the high price of rice is set to continue after recent flash floods in the northeastern wetlands destroyed more than 200,000 hectares of mature Boro paddy.
See details: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/04/08/flash-flood-haors-may- worsen-rice-price-hike/
Paddy production hit by flood in the Haors … Floods have occurred in at least four of the five districts in the region. In Moulvibazar, which experiences the most rainfall in Bangladesh, at least 12,800 acres of Boro paddy went under water. Our correspondent Saiful Islam reported that farmers were seen collecting peanuts, pumpkins and yams from the inundated fields.
See more: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/04/08/paddy-production-hit- flood-haors/
Fresh areas flooded in Netrakona Flood situation in Netrakona continues to deteriorate as fresh areas of farmland were inundated yesterday, causing immense sufferings to thousands of farmers.
Due to washing away of two more embankments-'Gachikhai' and 'Joypur' embankments in Khaliajury upazila, over 90 percent area of the upazila has gone under water, said Mohammed Tofael Ahmed, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Khaliajury.
See details: http://www.thedailystar.net/country/fresh-areas-flooded-netrakona-1388464
… - See more: http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/details/article/260723/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0
April, 08, 2017
April, 09, 2017
April, 08, 2017
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See more at: http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/details/article/260767/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0 %A7%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0- %E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6% 97-%E0%A6%93- %E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A3%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F#sthash.1i7dhiCo.dpuf
April, 09, 2017
April, 08, 2017
Declare haors as 'affected areas' … Addressing a roundtable at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital, they also alleged that contractors who got the job of building embankments from Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) did not complete their work in due time and, in most cases, they were involved in corruption. Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) in collaboration with Water Rights Forum organised the roundtable. The flood-affected residents sought loans on easy terms for farming and urged that the government declare the areas surrounding haors as “affected areas”. On an average, some 75 percent crops in haor areas of Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrakona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria went under floodwater in the last few days, causing damage to crops worth around Tk 6,000 crore, claimed Reza, president of Paribesh O Haor Unnayan Shangstha. He said 90 percent crops in Sunamganj have gone under floodwater and farmers in those areas are facing a severe crisis as they did their cultivation with loans from different NGOs. See more at: http://www.thedailystar.net/city/declare-haors-affected-areas-1390495
Haor floods manmade, claim activists Participants in a roundtable discussion on the recent flash floods in the haors (wetlands) in north- eastern districts alleged that it was a manmade disaster created by the collapse of faulty flood barriers to protect lives and crops. They also demanded punishment for the officials and contractors responsible for building the flood barriers. Summing up the discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) yesterday, rights activist Sultana Kamal said, “This disaster was due to the lack of planning and coordination by the government departments concerned and the substandard work by the contractors who built the flood barriers.” See more at: http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/89910
April, 13, 2017
April, 12, 2017
Heavy rainfalls as well as onrush of water from the upstream Meghalaya hills in India have led to the
inundation of a vast areas of croplands of Haors and low-lying areas of the northeast. Flood started on
28th March affecting six districts (Sylhet, Moulavibazar, Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona and
Kishoreganj) in the north east region. Rising water overflow and breeched embankment in many places
and inundated vast areas of croplands. It destroyed nearly-ready-for-harvesting boro rice in about
160,170 hectors areas (details information in table 1).
Flash Flood Situation, April 19, 2017
Prepared in: April 13, 2013 Source: DDM Reports and National Dailies
Impact of Flash Flood
This flood caused huge damage to crop production. According to Ministry of Agriculture, the loss of
Boro rice is estimated to be about 800,000 tons.
Flow Chart of impact:
Detailed impact scenario:
As noted in the table above, Sunamganj district has been affected most extensively. The Department
of Agricultural Extension of Sunamganj has published the details of crop damage in the district (see
table below).
Table 2: Detailed impact of flash flood in Sunamganj district
Upazila Total area under boro cultivation
(Hec.)
Remark
Sadar 16,200 10,300 Tolakhalu and Teukhali embankment were damaged
Tahirpur 18,400 7,610 Alamkhali, Doronbadh and Mahalia were affected
South Sunamganj 22,275 5,560 Shallardair embankment was damaged
Jagannathpur 20,207 12,190 Burakhali, Tanguar, Betauka, Falgida, Demakhali and Katagang embankment collapsed and water logged
Table 1: Impacts of flash flood, 2017
Location Impact on Agriculture (Hec.)
Source
Kishoreganj 06 23,300 Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Kishoreganj (Dhakatribune.com); April 08, 2017
Habiganj No. of affected upazila not available
13,500 Agricultural Authorities of Habiganj
Sylhet 13 Damage information not available
-
12,800 DDM report; April 01, 2017
Sunamganj 11 91,690 Report on damage of Boro crops due to excessive rain, flash flood and embankment collapse, Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE),
Sunamganj; April 04, 2017 Total 160,170
Rising river water overflowed and breached embankment
160,170 Hectare cropland inundated1
Food security decline
Coping: farmers - use savings, low interest loans, deplete assets/sell product at lower price and reduce consumption of non-essential products4
Coping: day labor - use reduction in essential consumption, help from friends, and high interest loans4
1 Source- Reports of DDM, DAE April 01, 04 and 05, 2017, national dailies (the daily Star, Dhaka Tribune, Daily Janakantha, Samakal, April 08, 12 and 13, 2017. 2 Estimated production of 4 T per hectare as suggested by the Ministry of Agriculture 3 Estimated 120 person/day for harvesting boro rice from one hectare of crop field (Consultation with local farmers). 4 Final Draft National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) of Bangladesh 2015
Table 2: Detailed impact of flash flood in Sunamganj district
Upazila Total area under boro cultivation
(Hec.)
Remark
Dirai 28,000 6,740 Kadirpur, Tufankhali, Baram, Tangni and Boishakhi embankment were damaged
Shalla 22,000 2,120 Joaria embankment were damaged
Doara Bazar 13,680 6,930
Chatak 14,240 9,830 Water logged due to damage of Lakhsmibaul embankment
Jamalganj 25,190 6,010 Water logged due to damage of Kalibari Point
Biswamvarpur 11,090 5,790 Gondamara and Jiragtaherpur embankment collapsed
Total 229,082 91,690
Estimated total loss of potential rice crop 354,840 MT; and in monetary terms estimated loss amounted to BDT 10,645.2 million
Source: Department of Agriculture Extension, Sunamganj, April 04, 2017
Also, according to the SOS form complied by Upazila Project Implementation Officer, Mohanganj,
Netrokona, (SOS form, April 04, 2017), in the upazil, total 18,000 families have been affected due crop
damage in 8,500 hectare of boro land.
GoB Response in Flash Flood, 2017
The Government’s assistance to the flood affected people included cash grant, food aid and other
materials. DDM report on Government response is given below:
Table 3: Government response in flash flood, 2017
Districts Response
Sylhet 500 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 1,000,000 G.R. cash have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Sunamganj 60,000 M.T, of G.R. rice, BDT. 255,000 G.R. cash and 185 bundle of Corrugate iron sheet have been stored in Sunamganj district
Habiganj 50 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 100,000 G.R. have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Kishoreganj 100 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 200,000 G.R. cash is sent. 100 MT. G. R. rice have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Netrokona 100 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 500,000 G.R. cash is sent. BDT 1.0 million have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Moulavibazar 50 MT. G.R. rice and BDT. 100,000 G.R. cash have been supplied in response to the Demand Note
Source: DDM Reports, April 05 and 07, 2017
In April 12, 2017, Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) in collaboration with Water
Rights Forum organized a roundtable on this issue at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital. In the
roundtable, farmers from different haor (a type of wetland) areas suggested that the riverbeds were
silted and the initiatives to reconstruct the embankment were most inadequate. Also, they suggested
that the crisis was manmade, because, it occurred, largely, due to the financial mismanagement and
corruption leading to failure reconstruct the embankments on time.
Recommendations
ALRD the proposed that the government should supply through open market at BDT 10 per kg in the
affected regions and continue the assistance till the next rice harvest.
Although, the people in the affected district currently may have some food stock from the last year’s
harvest, food security is likely to decline rapidly in next few weeks’ time. Therefore, it is essential that,
GoB starts large scale food GR food distribution as well, intervene through Cash for Work to
compensate for the loss of employment of the agricultural labors.
It is also been suggested that, the flooded haor areas can be opened up for fishing on basis of the
demands of affected people.
Conclusion
Floods in these haor areas caused huge damage to boro crop. Since the area significantly contributes
to the national food production, overall food security of the country may experience negatively as a
consequence. Whatever the reason is, focuses should be on helping the affected people to cope with
the losses.
Media Coverage
Flash flood in the Haors may worsen rice price hike Traders believe the high price of rice is set to continue after recent flash floods in the northeastern wetlands destroyed more than 200,000 hectares of mature Boro paddy.
See details: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/04/08/flash-flood-haors-may- worsen-rice-price-hike/
Paddy production hit by flood in the Haors … Floods have occurred in at least four of the five districts in the region. In Moulvibazar, which experiences the most rainfall in Bangladesh, at least 12,800 acres of Boro paddy went under water. Our correspondent Saiful Islam reported that farmers were seen collecting peanuts, pumpkins and yams from the inundated fields.
See more: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/2017/04/08/paddy-production-hit- flood-haors/
Fresh areas flooded in Netrakona Flood situation in Netrakona continues to deteriorate as fresh areas of farmland were inundated yesterday, causing immense sufferings to thousands of farmers.
Due to washing away of two more embankments-'Gachikhai' and 'Joypur' embankments in Khaliajury upazila, over 90 percent area of the upazila has gone under water, said Mohammed Tofael Ahmed, upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Khaliajury.
See details: http://www.thedailystar.net/country/fresh-areas-flooded-netrakona-1388464
… - See more: http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/details/article/260723/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0
April, 08, 2017
April, 09, 2017
April, 08, 2017
%A7%9C%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%83%E0%A6%B7%E0%A6%95%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0- %E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%A8%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B6
, , ’ , ,
See more at: http://www.dailyjanakantha.com/details/article/260767/%E0%A6%B9%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%93%E0 %A7%9C%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%9E%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%9A%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0- %E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%AF%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6% 97-%E0%A6%93- %E0%A6%95%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%A3%E0%A7%80%E0%A7%9F#sthash.1i7dhiCo.dpuf
April, 09, 2017
April, 08, 2017
Declare haors as 'affected areas' … Addressing a roundtable at Dhaka Reporters Unity in the capital, they also alleged that contractors who got the job of building embankments from Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) did not complete their work in due time and, in most cases, they were involved in corruption. Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD) in collaboration with Water Rights Forum organised the roundtable. The flood-affected residents sought loans on easy terms for farming and urged that the government declare the areas surrounding haors as “affected areas”. On an average, some 75 percent crops in haor areas of Sunamganj, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Netrakona, Kishoreganj and Brahmanbaria went under floodwater in the last few days, causing damage to crops worth around Tk 6,000 crore, claimed Reza, president of Paribesh O Haor Unnayan Shangstha. He said 90 percent crops in Sunamganj have gone under floodwater and farmers in those areas are facing a severe crisis as they did their cultivation with loans from different NGOs. See more at: http://www.thedailystar.net/city/declare-haors-affected-areas-1390495
Haor floods manmade, claim activists Participants in a roundtable discussion on the recent flash floods in the haors (wetlands) in north- eastern districts alleged that it was a manmade disaster created by the collapse of faulty flood barriers to protect lives and crops. They also demanded punishment for the officials and contractors responsible for building the flood barriers. Summing up the discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) yesterday, rights activist Sultana Kamal said, “This disaster was due to the lack of planning and coordination by the government departments concerned and the substandard work by the contractors who built the flood barriers.” See more at: http://www.theindependentbd.com/printversion/details/89910
April, 13, 2017
April, 12, 2017
