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Welcome to the Haor Flash Flood Water Custodian, an approach that aims to link local communities to decision making in the North-East Region of Bangladesh. In this management simulation, you'll take on the role of a community mapper and gather different perspectives on the causes of the floods and proposed interventions from local communities affected by the disaster.
Source: Getty Images
The North-East Region of Bangladesh
The North-East Region of Bangladesh
The North-east Haor region of Bangladesh, located in the Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts with extensions into Sunamganj, Habiganj, Netrokona, Kishorganj, Brahamanbaria is a remarkable ecological treasure. This region plays a vital role in the country's agricultural sector, particularly in rice cultivation. During the monsoon season, the haors transform into expansive seasonal floodplains, providing fertile grounds for rice farming. This agricultural productivity not only sustains local communities but also contributes significantly to Bangladesh's food security. Additionally, the haors are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, making this region a crucial and environmentally significant part of Bangladesh.
The flood dynamics of the Haor region are deeply influenced by the annual monsoon cycle. During the monsoon season, heavy rainfall and water from the Brahmaputra and Surma rivers inundate the haors, turning them into vast seasonal floodplains. This natural flooding is a double-edged sword, as it brings fertility for rice cultivation but also poses challenges in terms of temporary displacement and damage to infrastructure in the region.
Source: alamy.com
Flood Event 2022
Flood Event 2022
Record-breaking rainfall in the Indian states of Assam and Meghalaya caused the worst floods in recent memory in Bangladesh's north-east region in June 2022, with Sylhet and Sunamganj districts suffering the most. This flash flood event affected 7.2 million people, leading to 141 deaths and over 4.8 million people being displaced across nine districts in the north-east. The floods also caused severe damage to the agricultural, housing, WASH, infrastructure and transport sector incurring a loss of around 720 million USD. The June floods were the third event of this nature to occur in the region in 2022, following earlier events in April and May, worsen the already dire situation for the people of the area.
Source: dhakatribune
Probable Causes of the Flood
Probable Causes of the Flood
The Haor region is located in downhills of India's Meghalaya, near Cherapunji, renowned for experiencing the world's highest rainfall. The causes of the floods can be attributed to both extreme rainfall and poor water management practices that have led to decreased drainage capacity in the area. The extreme rainfall, which was exacerbated by climate change, led to a significant increase in water levels in the rivers and tributaries that flow through the Haor region. Besides, the construction of embankments, dams, and other infrastructure in recent years has led to a decrease in the natural drainage capacity of the area. As a result, the excess water from the heavy rainfall had nowhere to go, leading to even more severe flooding.
The following section depicts the 3D view of the flood extent in June 2022.
Interactive 3D view of the Haor area with June 2022 situation. Note the hilly area in the north, that produces a lot of the water causes inundation in the very flat Haor area. Click here for full screen view
The Problem
The Problem
All actors have individual stakes, incentives, perspectives, and behaviors that influence land use and water management. The top-down approach of the Bangladesh water management practice does not account for this complexity. the current limited focus on the geo-physical environment and infrastructure optimization fails to achieve the ultimate goal of defining adaptation strategies that improve the livelihoods of local communities.
What do we bring?
What do we bring?
The Haor Flash Flood Water Custodian decision-making framework aims to promote resilient livelihoods and emphasizes the importance of careful design and the inclusion of all relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process. Our approach aims to enhance current decision-making processes by explicitly including a mapping of the diversity of local communities and their vulnerability profiles, while recognizing a multitude of stakeholders with varying stakes and incentives.
Our Aim
Our Aim
Through this game, we hope to raise awareness about the Haor floods and the importance of community engagement in disaster response and management. Our ultimate goal is to empower local communities to participate in decision-making processes that affect their livelihoods and promote resilient water management practices in the North-East Region of Bangladesh. So, let's put our heads together, grab our maps, and get started!
About
Willem is a senior expert on integrated water resources management. Willem started Carthago Consultancy as an independent consultancy in 1995. Ever since he has been involved in advising on management of large river, both in Netherlands and international. Currently Willem is involved in projects in Bangladesh, Vietnam and Pakistan.
Khushnuma is a junior consultant at Carthago Consultancy. She graduated from the Flood Risk Management program with the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship. She has been developing frameworks that incorporate community mental models for integrated water management and agricultural system in flood and drought prone areas.
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