Khulna, Bangladesh Water Logging & Tidal Bore Briefing Note – 20 September, 2020
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Khulna, Bangladesh Water Logging & Tidal Bore Briefing Note – 20 September, 2020 CRISIS IMPACT OVERVIEW KEY PRIORITIES The southwest costal belt across Satkhira, Jessore, and Khulna Districts have been heavily WASH and Health waterlogged following Cyclone Amphan’s effect on the areas in late May coupled with FOOD SECURITY heavy rainfall in the last 3 months. Approximately 23,000 households in Jessore, LIVELIHOOD Satkhira and Khulna have been affected due to this waterlogging (Assessment report on waterlogging and tidal bores by Uttaran, September 2020) According to reports by national media, Response Capacity: Government upazilas under Satkhira and Khulna districts, especially Assasuni and Paikgachha have been Following measures have been adopted by some of the worst-affected due to this water Government: logging. (Press Release: Newage Report). Food support in the form of rice distribution have However, there was insufficient follow-up taken place in some of the affected unions under reports by national media on Amphan and the Tala, Satkhira Sadar and Paikgachha. 10-20 kg of rice were provided in each of these selected current waterlogging situation in the last 2 unions. (see Annex for union wise breakdown) months. Previous reports from past years have Response Capacity: Non-Government suggested water logging in Bangladesh results Agencies of a combination of factors that include: inadequate drainage, mismanagement and a Currently a number of post-Amphan recovery lack of maintenance of embankments, projects are ongoing in Koyra upazila under increased sediment and siltation of rivers, Khulna district Several early recovery funding are believed to be restricted river flows due to embankments built on the pipeline as part of Amphan recovery for shrimp farming; and the release of water response from barrages in India especially Farakka Barrage and Durgapur / Damodar Barrage (Oxfam Public Health Assessment). Scope District Upazila Name Households There is a gap between affected households and the Affected response/support these households have received in the last 1 month based on the alert note and report on JESSORE ABHAYNAGAR 1,412 waterlogging (Uttaran, September 2020). However, it JESSORE MANIRAMPUR 2,242 may be vital to understand whether the areas affected will benefit from rapid response, since the damage SATKHIRA ASSASUNI 8168 was onset during Cyclone Amphan that occurred in May, 2020. A lack of evidence is a limitation to SATKHIRA SATKHIRA SADAR 6150 deduce this scope. SATKHIRA TALA 545 Humanitarian constraints KHULNA PAIKGACHHA 1,179 COVID-19 poses health threat to personnel working in KHULNA KOYRA 3716 the location. Also, inundated roads and damage due to heavy rainfall and Cyclone Amphan has yet to be Total 7 upazilas 23,412 repaired that may cause constraints in transportation. *Union wise breakdown in Annex [Source: Assessment Report by Uttaran: Post Amphan Tidal Status of disbursement pot Bores and Water logging conducted] GBP 654,947 as of 20 September 2020 Briefing Note – 20 September, 2020 1. Livelihood Vulnerable groups affected Livelihood/income generating activities, functioning of The most vulnerable groups include: local market have been severely affected in the Khulna, Satkhira and Jessore areas due to Cyclone Amphan People with Disabilities: Waterlogging’s effect of and continuous tidal bores observed in the area compromising movement within and outside the (Assessment report on waterlogging and tidal bores by house will be more challenging for those with already- Uttaran, September 2020). The same report mentioned compromised abilities damages to crops, livestock and fisheries. People affected by COVID-19: People who have more Since all of the affected districts are majorly risks from developing severe cases of COVID 19 after agriculture dependent, waterlogging will specifically be being infected; i.e. Those above 50 years of age and/or more adversely affecting the income of farmers and having chronic illnesses. daily labor. Zila Name Upazila Name % of population dependent Current COVID scenario of affected districts have been on Agriculture for outlined in table below: employment Jessore Abhaynagar 42.9 District Number of covid positive cases Jessore Manirampur 66.1 Satkhira 1089 Khulna 6127 Khulna Paikgachha 65.7 Jessore 3689 Khulna Koyra 81.2 Source: DGHS Dashboard Satkhira Assasuni 76.8 Women and Children: Waterlogging may affect the Satkhira Satkhira sadar 51.8 dignity and health of women in particular – poor access to sanitation facilities and living in knee-deep Satkhira Tala 74.8 water may increase the risk of health hazardous infections especially for menstruating women. Women [Source: BBS] and children living in shelters may be subject to GBV 2. WASH & Health cases. On the other hand, children suffering from malnutrition and stunted children may experience Availability of fresh water are usually major concerns higher vulnerability during waterlogging, as one of the during to water logging and tidal surges. Inadequate negative coping mechanism of affected houses has access to safe drinking and use of water can lead to been reported to be the decrease meal intakes water-borne diseases such as diarrhea, skin disease (Assessment report on waterlogging and tidal bores by etc. The destruction of the water and sanitation Uttaran, September 2020). infrastructure such as submerged roads and housings can lead to inaccessibility to sanitary toilets and safe water as well. Salt waters from tidal bores can pose a threat to contaminate the drinking water with salinity – leading to health hazards. 3. Food Security The quality and quantity of the harvest are usually affected following tidal bores which cause damage to crops, seeds and agricultural land; often affecting and exacerbating food insecurity. Food stocks of affected households are also damaged when houses are inundated by water. Government food support may be insufficient in these cases since only selective unions have received food support, that too at the same average of 10-20kg per union. This briefing note was prepared in collaboration with Marwa Tasnim from Forewarn Bangladesh team. For feedback, Email: [email protected] Briefing Note – 20 September, 2020 Aggravating factors Environmental Challenges o Some environmental factors that plays a major role in the water-logging situation in south- western region of Bangladesh are: death of Mathavanga River in the 20th century, withdrawing water flow to the Padma River through operating the Farakka barrage after [Source: BBS] Figure: Percentage of people living under poverty and independent of Bangladesh, improper extreme poverty line in the districts management of rivers, faulty land-use by influential people in the areas etc. (Research Paper) Coping Mechanism o Water logging in the south west coast is not just related to heavy rainfall and extreme o According to a recent report by Uttaran on climatic events; it is also related to changes in waterlogged areas, negative coping the built-up areas themselves. mechanisms of affected have been seen to be o During the last three decades most of the selling of assets and reduction in meal natural drains in the districts are either filled up portions. or were encroached by human intervention. (Research Paper) o Long term coping mechanism, as suggested by o Siltation of rivers is one of the major causes of historic evidence, has been migration. Data increased water level in the coastal region. The showcases that people displaced due to prolonged flood of 2020 has brought in high hazards are likely to migrate in city slums. amount of silt in the region and without proper (2013, Research Paper, Journal of Science management of the river-bed/embankment Foundation). discharge, it can highly impact the water- logging timeframe of the area. Lessons learnt Poverty and Migration Unconditional cash support has been seen to be positively utilized by affected households o Poverty is an aggravating factor increasing the who then get independence in choosing which stress of people as more than 40% of the priorities they will like to address. Start Fund’s population in these districts fall under poverty previous response to waterlogging shows line. cash utilization occurring through coverage of o A study on Khulna District shows that about medical expenses, procurement of food items 12% of the migrant’s cause of migration is due and repairing of houses (PDM, B0-07, to fear of recurrent disaster and 23% people Waterlogging in Matarbari). migrates due to poverty. (Research Paper) Waterlogging and salinity intrusion are o The rate of seasonal migration (67%) was common in cyclone affected areas. (ICCCAD, higher than permanent migration (20%) and 2010) Awareness raising and advocacy on this most migrants choose city area (77%) as their particular hazard can enhance more risk migration place. (Research Paper, American reduction efforts taken by government and Journal of Environmental Protection) non-government organizations. Waterbody such as ponds and tube-well water contamination can lead to life threatening health hazards. Especially in cyclone affected areas this is seen as a common event. (World Vision Report) This briefing note was prepared in collaboration with Marwa Tasnim from Forewarn Bangladesh team. For feedback, Email: [email protected] Briefing Note – 20 September, 2020 Annex Name of Affected Number of Impact GO intervention NGO intervention Union people affected Khalilnagar (Tala) 245 families Drinking Water, N/A N/A