Bangladesh Case Study

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FAP

- set up in 1990 > aim > reduce impact of annual floods

- over 3 million killed by flooding in the past 30 years

- economically desirable for urban areas, not rural > dependant on fishing/farming

- short term management

> boat rescue/emergancy supplies/fodder for livestock/repair/rebuild/aid

- long term

> reduce deforestation (nepal/himalayas)

> building of 7 large dams > $30-40 million > 40 yrs

> build 5000 flood shelters

> build 350km of embankments 7m high > $6 billion

> create floodwater storage areas

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problems

- levees > $10 billions 8000km (economic)

- increases time flooded

- channelisation increases flood risk

- depostion reduced on floodplain

- too few sluices

- sudden breaches > depostion of infertile sands

- compartmentalisation reduces flushing effect of diseases (malaria/cholera)

- wet lands dry out

- fish stocks deplete

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causes of flooding

Natural

- drainage basin of Ganges/Brahmaputra covef 1.75kmsq > himalayas

- more than half country is less than 5m above sea level

- monsoon seanson > 75% annual rainfall june - september

- coastal flooding > storm surges > intense low pressure systems funneled up bay of bengal

Human

- rapid population growth (2.7%pa) > x2 people in UK, half the size > worlds largest delta

- deforesation/river diversion/international loans/inadequate aid/corruption

- fresh water wells > 1980s more than 100000 tube and 20000 deep wells in delta > drinking

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stats - 2007

- 565000 hectres of farmland, more than 10000km of road submerged

- over 300 people died, 35 from snakebites (2nd largest cause after drowning)

- health issues arise > fever/acute respiratory infections/diarrhoea/snake bites

- estimated 300000 people moved to refugee camps

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