River Bank Erosion, Risk Assessment and Communication planning fot communitties in Bangladesh
1. River Bank Erosion, It’s Risk assessment
and Communication planning for
Communities in Bangladesh
DMC- 303
DISASTER MEDIA AND RISK COMMUNICATION
INSTITUTE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND
VULNERABILITY STUDIES
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
3. Introduction
The frequency and magnitude of disasters in Bangladesh haveincreased over
the last decades. Between 1991 and 2000 about93 major disasters were
recorded in Bangladesh (World Bank,2010).
Geographical location, terrain, dense river networks,and monsoon climate
expose the country to a high level ofphysical disaster risk and socioeconomic
conditions havecreated a high vulnerability of communities to natural
disasters(MoDMR, 2006).
Many people outside Bangladesh are at least dimly aware of the significance
of flood and cyclone there. What is not so generally known is that millions of
people in Bangladesh suffer from another consequence of the country’s unique
mix of environmental and social factors: riverbank erosion.
The Bengal delta is the world’s second largest delta which comprises riverine
floodplains and deltaic plains and the delta drains the runoff of large
catchments of the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, the Meghna and the Jamuna;
this is the main reason of riverbank erosion.
4. River Bank Erosion
Bank erosion is the wearing away of the banks of a stream or river.
Rivers in Bangladesh are morphologically highly dynamic. The main rivers are braided,
and form islands or chars between the braiding channels. These chars, of which many
are inhabited, ‘move with flow’ and are extremely sensitive to changes in the river
conditions. Thus the erosion process takes place.
Erosion processes are highly unpredictable, and not compensated by accretion.
River erosion in Bangladesh is no less dangerous than other sudden and devastating
calamities. Losses due to river erosion occur slowly and gradually but they are more
destructive and it takes a few decades to make up the losses.
5. History of River Bank Erosion
River bank erosion is an ongoing disaster and Bangladesh face this disaster
each and every year.
As Bangladesh is sited on the delta of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Jamuna river
systems, which has more than 300 perennial tributaries and distributaries, it is
highly vulnerable to the effects of riverbank erosion
According to ‘World Disaster Report 2001’ published by IFRC every year about
10,00,000 people are affected by river erosion and 9,000 hectare cultivable
lands are banished in river.
A recent study of CEGIS (2005) shows that bank erosion along Padma River
during 1973-2004 was 29,390 hectars and along Jamuna River during 1973-
2004, it was 87,790 hectars.
Out of 489 upazilas of Bangladesh, 94 upazilas were affected by river erosion
only in 2013, of which 35 were severe in nature. (Source: Reliefweb)
6. Year Financial Loss Affected Area Affected Population
1996 5809 m 71680.4 Acres 10103635
1997 33012 m 7756 Acres 173090
1998 2201 m 41519 Acres 321000
1999 10535 m 227755 Acres 899275
2000 3286 219310 Acres 415870
A chart of the losses of river erosion from 1996 to 2000
Source: Climate Change would Intensify River Erosion in Bangladesh (Page 1) by Md. Shamsuddoha
7. Basic Facts
Mainly when river enters the mature stage they become sluggish and meander or
braid, and continuous water oscillations cause massive river bank erosion.
Bangladesh is a riverine country which is crisscrossed by more than 230 rivers, 57
of them are international, with a stretch of 2,400 kilometer of bank line.
As Bangladesh is sited on the delta of the Ganges-Brahmaputra-Jamuna river
systems, which has more than 300 perennial tributaries and distributaries, it is also
highly vulnerable to the effects of riverbank erosion.
It has been estimated that between 2,000 to 3,000 km of river bank line experience
major erosion annually (Islam and Islam, 1985)
In the country as a whole, between 15 to 20 million people are at risk from the
effects of erosion (Roge and Haque, 1987)
The Flood Plan Coordination Organization (FPCO) reports that 4.3 million
inhabitants of the charland in the major river systems comprise the most
vulnerable group in Bangladesh. In addition about 9000 hectares of mainland and
5000 ha of charland are reworked each year by erosion and over 60,000 people
become landless due to river bank erosion. (FPCO, 1995:7)
10. By following the process ,we have found these result
in the context of Kazipur-
By collecting and analyzing the information of the depth and
channel of river, the measurement of precipitation, flow velocity,
water level variation, supply of water and sediment into the river, it
has been found that these factors are highly influential in causing
the area so vulnerable to riverbank erosion.
By assessing the extent and probability of riverbank erosion, the
following risks have been identified and prioritized-
Loss of homestead
Loss of agricultural land
Loss of crops
Loss of property
11. To minimize the adverse effects of riverbank erosion, it is needed to
ensure the implementation of the following measures-
• Construction of bank protection works;
• Permanent or recurrent river training measures like closure of aggressive
channels or dredging of pilot channels to divert the flow away from the bank
under attack;
• Construction of retired embankments or the construction of a second line of
embankments;
• Shifting of important infrastructure (roads, railroads, irrigation canals,
bridges, transmission lines for electricity, etcetera);
• Relocation of the population at risk, including the dismantling of their houses
to save building material from being eroded into the river;
• Relocation of other important buildings like schools, shopping areas,
community centers etcetera.
12. Communication Plan
A disaster communication plan is a process which focuses on collection,
analysis, and dissemination of timely and accurate disaster information to the
public. The plan identifies trusted messengers who deliver the information to the
public. The plan identifies how disaster communications are delivered to special
needs and marginalized populations. The disaster communications plan includes
a roster of local, state, and national media outlets, reporters, and first informers.
This roster is contacted to solicit information and to disseminate information back
out to the public.
13. If we want to establish a communication plan for river bank erosion,
we have to focus on the following issues-
Goals
Objectives
Audiences
Tools
Messengers
Timetable
Evaluation
14. Uddin, A.F.M Azim and Basak, Jayanta Kumar, 2010, Effects of Riverbank
Erosion on Livelihood, Unnayan Onneshan, Dhaka
15. As Kazipur is one of the most vulnerable areas to river bank erosion, we have
developed a communication plan in this context.
Goals
Arrange preparedness campaigns to aware individuals and communities so
that they can be ready for the next disaster
promote community actions to reduce the impacts of future disasters.
Objectives
• To ensure all members of the community know and understand the standards
of care expected
• To ensure community people have opportunities to communicate their needs
within the organization
• To ensure community people have opportunities to communicate their needs
within the community
16. • To regularly gather feedback to ensure proper maintenance of standards of
care and support.
• To build strong relationships with the local authority and other funders
• To provide a regular flow of information to key stakeholders
• To regularly showcase organizational successes in the local media
• To be approached by local media for opinions on availability of services for
vulnerable people
Audiences
For an effective communication plan we have to address the two types of
audiences-
• Targets audiences -residents in specific geographic locations, groups of
individuals, such as homeowners, small business people, or families
• Special needs populations - children, elderly, disabled, and hearing
impaired, low to moderate income groups and neighborhoods, and
individuals who own pets
17. Tools- The plan can use the following mechanism:
traditional media outlets
• television
• radio
• newspapers
New Media Outlets
• Short Messaging System (SMS)
• bulletin boards
• neighborhood communications networks
• Messengers
18. Messenger
• elected and appointed officials
• trusted community leaders
• communicating with children through animated characters
Timetable
- Plot the various tasks to be undertaken to successfully implement the plan
over a time frame including days, months, and years.
Evaluation
- The effectiveness of the communications campaign could be measured in
terms of raising awareness, prompting action
19. Impact of River Bank Erosion
Source: Riverbank Erosion, H.M.A. Mahzuz.
20. Management Measures for River Bank
Erosion
Despite the continuing and widespread impact of riverine hazards in
Bangladesh, a comprehensive public policy on riverbank erosion
management, prevention and mitigation issues yet to be developed.
(Chowdhury, 2000: Haque and Zaman, 1994).
At present, the Water Development Board administers the planning and
management of riverine hazards in Bangladesh and is inclined towards
engineering and structural responses.
The Bangladesh Disaster Management Bureau was initiated in 1993 to
administer emergency and post disaster assistance. (Haque. 1997)
It is proposed to carry out a study on possible improvements of the
prediction of bank erosion along the main rivers of Bangladesh under the
MFF.
Clearly, disaster mitigation, prevention and development have to be
considered from a societal perspective and as such relate to the most
vulnerable and disadvantaged segments of the population. Development
should be recognized as a democratic process by which the majority rather
than the minority of people improve their quality of living.
22. Recommendations
From a disaster management perspective, attention must be taken to ensure
that vulnerable populations are not excluded from planning and decision-
making considerations.
Sustainable embankment construction and its maintenance should be
improved.
Actions should be taken against deforestation.
Investment and entrepreneurial initiatives within the informal employment
sector which has been identified as a viable alternative to agricultural labour
activities should be introduced among the displaced people.
Role of NGOs should be given emphasis in advocating for the extension of
credit and small enterprises to displaced communities.
Government should provide temporary shelter for the affected community so
that they can stable their life after the disaster.
Government should develop the land relocation policies.
23. Conclusion
As Bangladesh embraces the three mighty rivers, this country have to face
the river bank erosion every year but proper measures should be taken to
prevent the negative impacts of the disaster. For this disaster, the
marginalized and poor people not only lose property but also experiences
socio economic deprivation through displacement. Because of the dynamic
character of the rivers and the failure of structural measures, the sufferings of
the people are assumed to continue. Long term policies and strategies should
be taken to cope up with the bank erosion taking into account the social and
institutional adjustment measures. Over time, the country’s ability to manage
disaster risks, in particular river bank erosion, has evolved and improved as a
result of gradual shift from a response-based approach to a strategy that
incorporates elements of greater emergency preparedness and risk
mitigation. Accurate risk assessment and an effective communication plan
play significant roles in this aspect.
24. References
1. Indra , Doreen Marie and Buchignani, Norman, January 24, 2014, www.livingwiththejamuna.com, Canada
2. BWDB Report, 2005
3. Agence France-Presse, 17 Aug 2003, River bank erosion: Bangladesh's silent calamity, Bangladesh
4. Rahman, M R, June-December 2010, Impact of riverbank erosion hazard in the Jamuna floodplain areas in
Bangladesh, Dhaka
5. Shamsuddoha, Md., Climate Change would Intensify River Erosion in Bangladesh (Page 1-2)
6. Zafar, Mohammad, 2011, Coastal Erosion Impacts and Adoption Aspects for Bangladesh, Chittagong
7. SPARRSO Report, 1987
8. Reuters, 23 Sep 2007, BANGLADESH: River bank erosion affects economy
9. Uddin, A.F.M Azim and Basak, Jayanta Kumar, 2010, Effects of Riverbank Erosion on Livelihood, Unnayan
Onneshan, Dhaka
