FAIZA REHMAN

Natural disasters are naturally occurring events, or

extreme forces of nature, that cause death or

destruction of people and or their property.

Natural disasters are changes which are so great

they may cause damage to the shape of the land or

to the lives of people and other living things.

Great changes happen deep inside the Earth and on

its surface. The changes on the outer part of the

Earth happen because of different kinds of weather

FAIZA REHMAN

Natural Hazards are events that are

part of the dynamic processes of the

Earth. However, when natural hazards

adversely affect people then they

become natural disasters.

FAIZA REHMAN

South Asia is exposed to a variety of hazards

due to the geo-climatic characteristics of the

region. These hazards range from avalanches

and earthquakes to glacial lake outburst floods

in the Himalayas in the North, droughts and

floods in the Plains, and cyclones that

originate in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian

Sea.

FAIZA REHMAN

1. Hazard exposure is primarily due to two

geographic features of the region, the

Himalayan mountain belt and the coastal waters

of the Indian Ocean, including the Bay of

Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

2. The Himalayan ecosystem sustains almost

1.5billion people, many of whom live in the

floodplains of its main rivers (e.g., the

Brahmaputra, Ganges, Indus, and Kosi).

• These rivers are difficult to manage and cause

significant flooding on a regular basisFAIZA REHMAN

3. The monsoon weather pattern, formed in the

northern part of the region, traps humidity and

causes intense rainfall that often leads to

flooding.

4. Major fault lines run through the

mountainous regions as pressure builds from

the Indian plate pushing north, resulting in large-

scale seismic events.

5. Finally, the warm waters of the Indian Ocean

generate high intensity cyclones that impact

nearly all coastal areas in the region

FAIZA REHMAN

The monsoon carries more than 70 percent

of South Asia’s annual precipitation in a brief

four-month period.

A good monsoon brings strong harvests and

financial security, but a poorly timed monsoon,

can result inhuman suffering and economic

loss due to either flooding or drought

FAIZA REHMAN

South Asia is the most disaster prone regions of the

world. Often refer to as the Hazard Belt.

Flood

Earthquake

Cyclones

Avalanche/Landslide

Drought

Forest fire or Bushfire

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Geophysical

Meteorological

Hydrological

Climatological

Biological

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Two thirds of the natural disasters in South

Asia are related to Hydrology.

Various studies indicate that climate change

would further increase the frequency, severity

and unpredictability of the natural disasters

especially floods in entire South Asian Region.

FAIZA REHMAN

Six out of seven countries of South Asia are prone

to floods due to a variety of factors, both natural

and manmade every year.

Last decade, some of the south Asian countries

such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal

and Sri Lanka affected by catastrophic floods.

Due to floods thousands of people lost their lives

and properties in this region every year

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

Flooding is the most frequently occurring

disaster in SAR.

South Asia has a long history of floods and

for many of the countries in South Asia,

combating floods is an annual feature.

Except for Bhutan and Maldives, all countries

in the region are subject to considerable and

partly extreme flood risk.

FAIZA REHMAN

Floods affect

the largest

number of

people, on

average

approximately

27 million per

year, and cause

an average of

over US$1

billion in annual

losses.

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

Map showing flood affected

areas in Pakistan during the

year 2010

FAIZA REHMAN

Of all the hazards, floods have the most

disastrous impacts on the lives of people in

Pakistan as they not only cause loss to human

lives and property but also have substantial

negative effect on the economy by damaging

agriculture and standing crops. Floods also have

dire effects on public health and the

environment, particularly water quality.

FAIZA REHMAN

“I have witnessed many natural disasters around the world,

but nothing like this”

Said Ban Ki moon, UN Secretary General after the devastating

floods in Pakistan, 2010

The 2010 Pakistan floods start in July 2010 following heavy

monsoon rains in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Punjab

and Baluchistan regions of Pakistan and affected the Indus

River basin. Approximately one-fifth of Pakistan's total land

area was underwater. According to Pakistani government data

the floods directly affected about 20 million people, mostly by

destruction of property, livelihood and infrastructure, with a

death toll of closer to 2,000 people

FAIZA REHMAN

Among the recurrent floods of 2010, 2011 and

2012. Floods of 2010 remained the most

devastating of its kind in the 63 year’s history of

the country, where some 1,985 people lost

their lives. The loss to public and private

property and infrastructure amounted to more

than 10 billion US Dollars.

in 2011, in roughly the same geographic

areas, floods affected more than five million

people.

Once again in 2012, floods affected five million

people

FAIZA REHMAN

Normally, a flood affecting five million people

would be seen as a mega-disaster (after all, the

2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami affected about two

million people).

But in the case of Pakistan, the 2012 floods did

not generate the same international attention as

in the previous two years; perhaps recurring

disasters the third time around are simply not

deemed to be as news-worthy. Media attention

is often linked to the mobilization of international

funds.

FAIZA REHMAN

Approximately 460,000 homes were destroyed

and 265,000 people were displaced, taking

shelter in makeshift relief camps in Baluchistan,

Punjab and Sindh provinces.

Food supplies were also severely impacted as

over 1.12 million acres of crops were affected

and over 9,600 cattle died.

FAIZA REHMAN

Heavy monsoon rains in August 2013 triggered

flash floods and caused widespread losses and

damage across Pakistan. Nearly 1.5 million

people, almost 80,000 houses, and 1.5 million

acres of crops were affected. 234 people were

killed. More than 4,100 people were housed in

408 relief camps.

FAIZA REHMAN

Pakistan, which has suffered from monsoon floods for the last three years, has been criticized for not doing more to mitigate against the dangers posed by seasonal rains washing away homes and farmland.

Our government is least bothered about the monsoon season they only get up from their sleep when the country is under water.

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

About 30 million people are affected annually.

Floods in the Indo–Gangetic–Brahmaputra plains are an annual feature.

On an average, a few hundred lives are lost, millions are rendered homeless and several hectares of crops are damaged every year.

Nearly 75% of the total rainfall occurs over a short monsoon season (June – September).

40 million hectares, or 12% of Indian land, is considered prone to floods.

Assam, Bihar, Orissa , Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are 5 states that face annual floods.

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

India suffered multiple rounds of floods in 2012. Heavy monsoon rainfall caused the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries to flood the northeastern state of Assam twice in 2012, once in late June and again in September.

The first round of floods affected more than 2.3 million people in over 4,000 villages across the state of Assam and was labeled the worst since 1998.

Flood waters breached 43 levees, affecting some areas that are not traditionally susceptible to floods.

FAIZA REHMAN

Towards the end of the monsoon season, in

September, rainfall caused floods and landslides

in Assam and Sikkim, killing 33 and displacing

more than a million people across northeast

India.

In August, floods in northwestern India also killed

36 people as Rajasthan received its heaviest

rainfall in over 30 years.

Further to the north, in Uttarkhand, 34 people

were killed and more than 2,000 people took

shelter in relief camps

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

Bangladesh is one of the countries with a unique settings for flooding. Most part of the country is low lying and 80% of the landmass is flood plain thereby leaving the country highly vulnerable to the threat of repeated floods.

Historical and recent data shows that during past 50 years at least 7 major floods have taken place in Bangladesh, some the worst ones have occurred during the years 1987, 1988, 1998, 2004 and 2007.

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FAIZA REHMAN

The most recent event is recorded in June

2012 In which some five million people were

affected by floods and landslides beginning

on 23 June.

The city of Chittagong in eastern Bangladesh

received 15.7 inches (40 centimeters) of

monsoon rainfall within a single twelve hour

period on 26 June 2012, causing flash floods

and landslides around the city and in nearby

villages.

FAIZA REHMAN

Most deaths were caused by landslides and

collapsing structures.

The monsoons displaced 600,000 people and

many were still in temporary shelters several

months after the flood waters receded.

Even when monsoon floods come as

expected every year, their impact on human

communities is severe.

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Floods are more of common occurrence

in Sri Lanka than the other natural

disasters.

There are 103 river basins of which

about 10 rivers are considered as major.

Among these major rivers Kelani, Gin,

Kalu, Nilwala and Mahaweli are

vulnerable to floods.

FAIZA REHMAN

The damages usually are loss of human life, livestock, physical damages such as to buildings, crops, infrastructures etc.

Sometimes landslides can be triggered on account of flooding.

In addition to direct effect, there are various indirect impact such as epidemics, scarcity of food supply, water supply, heavy impact on local economy, social disruptions etc.

FAIZA REHMAN

Indirect impacts also include the

degradation of agricultural land which

subsequently diminishes agricultural

productivity, impacting rural

development and income opportunities.

This is particularly important in SAR

where dependence on agricultural

production for livelihoods remains high.

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

Avalanches are river like speedy flow of snow or

ice descending from the mountain tops.

Avalanches are very damaging and cause huge

loss to life and property

Beside killing people, avalanches also damage

the roads and others properties and settlements

falling in its way

On an average around 30 people are killed every

year due to this disaster in various zones of the

Himalayas.

FAIZA REHMAN

Avalanches are common in Himalayan region

above 3500m elevation.

North facing slope have avalanches in winter

and south facing slopes during spring.

Slopes covered with grass more prone to this

hazard.

Avalanches are very frequent on slopes of 30-

45°.Convex slopes more prone to this disaster. FAIZA REHMAN

On the morning of April 7, 2012, an avalanche buried the Gayari military base located near Pakistan’s border with India in Kashmir under 21 meters of snow.

The military eventually declared 129 soldiers and eleven civilian personnel dead.

To date, more soldiers in the mountainous border region have died from weather conditions than in combat.

FAIZA REHMAN

The high mountainous region

having the rugged and steep

slopes topographically is

susceptible to avalanche.

A number of cases of avalanche

with destructive nature have been

reported in Nepal

The most recent occurred on the

morning of 18th April 2014 when

the avalanche smashed in an area

nicknamed the "popcorn field“, at

an altitude of about 5,800 meters

(19,000 feet), resulting 13 dead

and 3 missings. FAIZA REHMAN

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Cold waves are recurrent phenomenon

in North India and Pakistan.

Hundreds if not thousands of people die

of cold and related diseases every year,

most of them from poor urban areas in

northern parts of the country.

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Cyclone Risk model

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN

South Asian countries are seriously

vulnerable to different types of natural

disasters and have been seriously

experiencing one or another kind of natural

disasters.

Floods of longer duration and frequent

occurrence have caused great losses to the

life and property in Pakistan, Bangladesh,

India and Nepal.

FAIZA REHMAN

Earthquakes of greater magnitudes (7+)

have ravaged India and Pakistan, several

times in the last decades. Devastating

Tsunamis, triggered, from the Indian Ocean

bed have destroyed some coastal areas

of India and Sri Lanka.

Not only these, Cyclones, Tornadoes,

landslides and huge forest-fires are very

common and devastating natural hazards

of this region

FAIZA REHMAN

In the recent years the frequency, magnitude

and severity of occurrence of these natural

disasters are increasing alarmingly.

Particularly the disasters like Cyclones, storms,

floods, and draughts etc. are in the increase.

Scientists are of the opinion that these are the

fallout of the looming global climatic change in

the SAR.

FAIZA REHMAN

The growth and high population density in SAR’s

megacities will continue to make them vulnerable to

disasters if development is not properly managed.

With a projected population of 100 million

inhabitants in 2015, Mumbai, Delhi, Dhaka, Kolkata

and Karachi, the five megacities associated with

increasingly high population densities and

concentrated high economic growth, are some of

the fastest growing megacities in the world.

FAIZA REHMAN

The largely unplanned growth of cities in the

region has had negative effects on the quality

of urban services and on the environment,

leading to high vulnerability

Without a strong culture of safety and proper

enforcement mechanisms to ensure resilient

construction of buildings, these structures are

often not strong enough to withstand hazard

events.

FAIZA REHMAN

Poor land use planning and ill-enforced building

codes result in structures that are highly

vulnerable to hazard events

Other infrastructure, including water, transport,

and power are often not built with hazard

exposure in mind. Due to the added marginal

cost of building resilient structures, this is often

overlooked by contractors, which creates

significant vulnerability in the capital stock

FAIZA REHMAN

Policies and legislation for managing natural

disasters are often insufficiently enforced in

SAR.

This is coupled with a highly vulnerable

population that is neither well aware of the

risks it faces, nor the response it should have

in the case of a natural disaster.

FAIZA REHMAN

FAIZA REHMAN