Floods in BangladeshBy Dalisay R. Giovacchini

MYP 1

Flooding in Bangladesh

What are the Causes, Effects and Responses to Flooding in Bangladesh.

Assessment Task:You are a photo editor for a news organisation who is putting together a presentation on the causes, effects and responses to flooding in Bangladesh. You will be concentrating on one particular flood event in 1998.

There SHOULD be more than one photo for each section.Each photo has to have a caption that describes and explains the relevance of the photo.I.e. it should not be – here is a picture of flat land, it should be:

“Bangladesh in mainly low lying flat land with …% being less than …. Meters above sea level. This means when rivers flood it covers a large area of land. Source: www.mrpiersiscoolandhisphotosaregreat.com

What are the Physical Causes of Flooding

Since Bangladesh’ rivers go through the Himalayas mountain rages, when the snow from these mountains melt, the water slides down as surface run-off due to the steep relief of these mountains which results to soil erosion.

Some places in Bangladesh receive at least 1800 to 2600 mm of rainfall a year. Eighty percent (80%) of their rainfall comes from monsoon season which fall from May to September. This rainy period sometimes causes rivers to swell and over flow and create the enormous flood that they experience.

What are the Human Causes of Flooding

As the population of Bangladesh increases, the need to provide also increases. More and more building are being built and roads are being provided, so not as much water can seep into the ground .

More and more trees are being cut in the Himalayas mountains. Because of this more water is going to the river because there are no roots to hold back the water.

Case Study 1998 Floods

On the next few pages add the effects of the flood. You should look at the primary effects (those that happen straight away) and the secondary effects (those that may happen over the next few days and months)

Primary effects

At least 70% of the country flooded.

A lot of crop died in this event.

Drowning occurs

Secondary effects

Because of food shortage, a lot of people grow hungry due to food shortage.

Water became really dirty because of bits and bits of trash collected on the way.

A lot of diseases have spread due to the contaminated waters and soil organisms that senter people’s cuts and bruises

Responses to Flooding

Here you will look at the immediate and longer term responses of the government and other organizations

Think about medical help, food help in the first instance and some of the longer term ways people could respond to regular flooding.

Immediate Responses

Evacuation Search and rescue

Relief goods distribution

Long Term Responses to flooding

Here you need to look at different responses such as flood prevention schemes, shelters and early warning systems.

Long term Responses

In Bangladesh they make houses that have tall legs about 4meters above land.

They build mound, so that when it floods there is a place where they can stay dry.

Bibliography http://skvots.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/himalaya.jpg http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/flood-in-bangladesh-07.gif http://www.sgvcc.org/community%20support/images/foodbank.JPG http://

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http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/photo/gallery/100822/GAL-10Aug22-5507/media/PHO-10Aug22-246187.jpg

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http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRUxNnTCTNm2Yy5BmMhr7RuqunERppavN0RxAfa9_Jo5Ksj6iNt&t=1

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http://www.sos-arsenic.net/images/urb01.jpg