Effective disaster management a priority need
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Shahiduzzaman Khan
The ongoing floods have caused devastations throughout the country. Damage to crops and vegetable has been estimated at Tk 6.0 billion. Damage to infrastructure is also enormous -- its estimation is now in the process.
A report published in the FE this week assessed the severity of this year's flood against that of 2004. More than half of the country was flooded in 2004 and the damage was estimated at US$2.0 billion including the agriculture production loss of about $500 million. This year, the flood has marooned a large number of people and their homesteads; significant damage has been done to roads and infrastructure and also seedbeds; various crops including paddy, jute, sugarcane and vegetables, livestock and fish production have badly suffered.
Assisted by the armed forces, the government has intensified its efforts to recoup the losses suffered by the agricultural sector, especially the current 'aman' crops. Bangladesh Bank has instructed the state-owned banks to disburse fresh agricultural credit to the flood-affected farmers under relaxed rules and regulations.
As the situation suggests, the inflationary pressure on economy might not diminish unless the country raises its agricultural production. In fact, the performances of the agriculture significantly contribute to the growth of overall gross domestic product (GDP). The biggest challenge is to stimulate production so that the huge agriculture loan, if disbursed as per target, will not have adverse impact on prices.
Whenever floods occur, the country is left with unbelievable human casualties and agricultural losses. Once the water recedes, the authorities take no steps to prepare for a similar calamity in the future. During floods, a large numbers of people are made homeless and standing crops on vast tracts of land are destroyed. People have to leave their inundated homes and are forced to seek refuge elsewhere. Successive governments have made little effort to upgrade the flood forecasting and warning system in line with the changing pattern of weather and climate. Although there is a disaster management and relief ministry, it can do little to help the victims and rehabilitate them when the water recedes, as the responsibilities of the government are shared by many ministries.
The authorities are yet to finalise an integrated disaster management policy. Such a policy must be formulated as early as possible. An effective national disaster management plan will not only ensure that the different government agencies are aware of and equally sensitive about their responsibilities with regard to disaster management, but will also improve the overall preparedness of the government to deal with natural disasters.
As per standing orders on the disaster management, the disaster management committees at national, district and thana level were scheduled to be activated by now. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The government needs to mobilise at all levels the non-government organisations (NGOs), community based organisations, private sector bodies and individual citizens and involve the development partners in relief activities.
For the present, the need for shelter, food, potable water and medical help including IV saline is being felt everywhere. Hundreds of schools and colleges have gone under water implying these are no longer fit for being used as shelter centres. Education in those academic institutions has also come to a grinding halt. In order to face the challenges of the ongoing floods, some of the country's private think tanks' flood control consultants and NGOs have recommended a host of measures to face the emerging challenges. Some of these suggestions need urgent government attention.
The government is still hesitant over accepting large donations for the flood victims without asking their sources. Shrugging all inertia, the government has to make it clear that it welcomes participation of all NGOs, private sector and business, voluntary organisations, civil society organisations, professional bodies and associations, and citizens in the relief and rehabilitation activities. Such a mobilisation should, as far as possible, be coordinated by the local civil administration. The political parties should also be allowed to do relief work on the understanding that such initiatives are focused purely on humanitarian activities.
The media and the civil society need to play an active role in providing voice to the affected people. This will ensure that the needs of the people are readily communicated to the authorities and that relief goods are delivered, where they are most needed, and on time. In view of the inadequate supply situation of food grains in the global and the domestic markets, and the rise in domestic prices, the government needs to defer any decision as regards upward revision of prices of fuel, gas, fertiliser and electricity.
The current food stocks should be replenished in line with enhanced demand through both public and private imports. Necessary steps should be taken to facilitate cross-border trade and encourage private food grain importers to open letters of credit for food imports. The government should sit with the potential importers and leading bankers to address this issue on an urgent basis.
The authorities should take up the VGF and VGD activities programmed under the ADP in the flood-affected areas. Post-flood rehabilitation activities need to be integrated into the regular anti-poverty programmes of the government. If the flood prolongs, there should be a plan beyond the aman season. Seed, fertiliser and irrigation for both the aman and boro season are to be supplied free of cost to the marginal farmers, and at a subsidised rate to other farmers.
The government and the private sector need to demonstrate much more seriousness in addressing such huge tasks, with improved coordination among the relevant agencies. There should be greater momentum of the rehabilitation activities. This will inject an overall sense of confidence in the affected citizens as well as mobilise them to meet the gigantic challenges posed by the floods.
(szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com)
The ongoing floods have caused devastations throughout the country. Damage to crops and vegetable has been estimated at Tk 6.0 billion. Damage to infrastructure is also enormous -- its estimation is now in the process.
A report published in the FE this week assessed the severity of this year's flood against that of 2004. More than half of the country was flooded in 2004 and the damage was estimated at US$2.0 billion including the agriculture production loss of about $500 million. This year, the flood has marooned a large number of people and their homesteads; significant damage has been done to roads and infrastructure and also seedbeds; various crops including paddy, jute, sugarcane and vegetables, livestock and fish production have badly suffered.
Assisted by the armed forces, the government has intensified its efforts to recoup the losses suffered by the agricultural sector, especially the current 'aman' crops. Bangladesh Bank has instructed the state-owned banks to disburse fresh agricultural credit to the flood-affected farmers under relaxed rules and regulations.
As the situation suggests, the inflationary pressure on economy might not diminish unless the country raises its agricultural production. In fact, the performances of the agriculture significantly contribute to the growth of overall gross domestic product (GDP). The biggest challenge is to stimulate production so that the huge agriculture loan, if disbursed as per target, will not have adverse impact on prices.
Whenever floods occur, the country is left with unbelievable human casualties and agricultural losses. Once the water recedes, the authorities take no steps to prepare for a similar calamity in the future. During floods, a large numbers of people are made homeless and standing crops on vast tracts of land are destroyed. People have to leave their inundated homes and are forced to seek refuge elsewhere. Successive governments have made little effort to upgrade the flood forecasting and warning system in line with the changing pattern of weather and climate. Although there is a disaster management and relief ministry, it can do little to help the victims and rehabilitate them when the water recedes, as the responsibilities of the government are shared by many ministries.
The authorities are yet to finalise an integrated disaster management policy. Such a policy must be formulated as early as possible. An effective national disaster management plan will not only ensure that the different government agencies are aware of and equally sensitive about their responsibilities with regard to disaster management, but will also improve the overall preparedness of the government to deal with natural disasters.
As per standing orders on the disaster management, the disaster management committees at national, district and thana level were scheduled to be activated by now. Unfortunately, that did not happen. The government needs to mobilise at all levels the non-government organisations (NGOs), community based organisations, private sector bodies and individual citizens and involve the development partners in relief activities.
For the present, the need for shelter, food, potable water and medical help including IV saline is being felt everywhere. Hundreds of schools and colleges have gone under water implying these are no longer fit for being used as shelter centres. Education in those academic institutions has also come to a grinding halt. In order to face the challenges of the ongoing floods, some of the country's private think tanks' flood control consultants and NGOs have recommended a host of measures to face the emerging challenges. Some of these suggestions need urgent government attention.
The government is still hesitant over accepting large donations for the flood victims without asking their sources. Shrugging all inertia, the government has to make it clear that it welcomes participation of all NGOs, private sector and business, voluntary organisations, civil society organisations, professional bodies and associations, and citizens in the relief and rehabilitation activities. Such a mobilisation should, as far as possible, be coordinated by the local civil administration. The political parties should also be allowed to do relief work on the understanding that such initiatives are focused purely on humanitarian activities.
The media and the civil society need to play an active role in providing voice to the affected people. This will ensure that the needs of the people are readily communicated to the authorities and that relief goods are delivered, where they are most needed, and on time. In view of the inadequate supply situation of food grains in the global and the domestic markets, and the rise in domestic prices, the government needs to defer any decision as regards upward revision of prices of fuel, gas, fertiliser and electricity.
The current food stocks should be replenished in line with enhanced demand through both public and private imports. Necessary steps should be taken to facilitate cross-border trade and encourage private food grain importers to open letters of credit for food imports. The government should sit with the potential importers and leading bankers to address this issue on an urgent basis.
The authorities should take up the VGF and VGD activities programmed under the ADP in the flood-affected areas. Post-flood rehabilitation activities need to be integrated into the regular anti-poverty programmes of the government. If the flood prolongs, there should be a plan beyond the aman season. Seed, fertiliser and irrigation for both the aman and boro season are to be supplied free of cost to the marginal farmers, and at a subsidised rate to other farmers.
The government and the private sector need to demonstrate much more seriousness in addressing such huge tasks, with improved coordination among the relevant agencies. There should be greater momentum of the rehabilitation activities. This will inject an overall sense of confidence in the affected citizens as well as mobilise them to meet the gigantic challenges posed by the floods.
(szkhan@thefinancialexpress-bd.com)