The Effects of the

Bangladesh Floods
July / August 2004.

Flooded areas – worst

affected areas in north
eastern regions this
time – Meghna river.
This year's floods
hit all 27 districts
in the north-
eastern state of
Assam, with
thousands still
marooned.
About two-thirds of the low-lying nation is under
water in the worst floods in 15 years. The capital,
Dhaka, is among the worst-hit areas. Death toll
exceeded 800 as of August 4

About 60% of
the capital city
Dhaka has gone
under dirty
floodwaters
polluted with
sewage,
exposing 5
million people to
serious health
hazards.
At least 100 more people are being reported killed in
Bangladesh floods, taking the death toll from three
weeks of devastation to almost 400 in the country,
and over 1,100 in South Asia.
Bangladeshi officials say new deaths were reported
from across the country as a result of drowning,
disease, snakebites and house collapses.

Early
reports
Demographic Effects

Almost a million
dwellings have been
destroyed, more than
3,000,000 damaged and
millions of inhabitants
temporarily or
permanently displaced.
This year's floods have had a terrible effect on more
than 33 million people
 Affected Families 4,756,049
July 27th
Figures lower Affected Population 23,469,172

Problem grew
Reported Deaths 277
 Social Effects:

The UN Country Team (UNCT) has identified urgent needs in

the sectors of food, agriculture, health, nutrition, water,
sanitation, family shelter, education, protection, economic
recovery and infrastructure, and coordination and information
management over the next six months.
Destroying houses …As the floodwaters recede, the scale
of the disaster is becoming clearer. Six million people are
living in makeshift shelters, their homes destroyed. 18.8.04

Over 600 people have died, with most deaths caused

by drowning, snakebites, or waterborne diseases
… crops, livestock and essential rural and urban
infrastructure. Further floods associated with the
monsoon and cyclone seasons remain a real possibility
over the next six months.

Infrastructure
disruption –
social and
economic
impacts
 Around 20 million families are in need of emergency
relief.
Infrastructure blockages mean aid / relief can’t get to
remote rural areas quickly. So the suffering and the
death toll rises.
International Attention and Aid. Bangladesh cannot cope
alone.
 Gastro-enteric and other diseases are rife as millions of
clean water sources have been contaminated and
sanitation facilities disrupted.

                                                                                                                                                 

A disease outbreak in the aftermath of the flooding : c.

1000 patients a day Water-borne diseases like diarrhoea,
cholera, typhoid and scabies are spreading rapidly.
Schools have been closed or used as emergency
shelters for homeless people.
 Economic Effects:

Railway men try

to sandbag
Teestamuk Ghat
Station at Balashi
in Gaibandha
to protect it from
raging
floodwaters.

The government is asking for "any form of assistance" from

any government or agency. It estimates the damage so far
at £140 million. Nearly 500,000 tonnes of rice has been
ruined in the fields.
More than 2,000,000 acres of agricultural land have
been submerged and countless crops ruined.
Economic Damage costs are higher in urban areas like
Dhaka – with damaged shops and factories with high repair
bills. About 60% of Bangladesh is under water, and millions
are homeless. Damage is put at $7bn.
Rescue attempts
cost money and
further damage the
economy of
Bangladesh - that can
ill afford the burden.
ADB Approves $180 Million Loan for Emergency
Flood Damage Rehabilitation in Bangladesh
(A.D.B. = Asian Development Bank)
… the combined
losses to assets and
output amounted to
at least $2.3 billion
or 3.9% of gross
domestic product…
affected 36 million
people, or about
25% of the
population …. with
Floods are costing the heavy losses to
garments sector around agricultural and
$3m a day industrial output
 The floods have
meant that many
garments factories
are running below
capacity
It's money the owners
and impoverished
Bangladeshis can ill
afford to lose.
The factories directly employ two million people
and garments account for nearly 80% of all
export earnings. The factory owners are paying for
mobile clinics. Doctors set up consulting rooms on the
back of trucks. A long queue of workers waited for
oral rehydration salts for diarrhoea and ointment
for skin infections contracted in the water.
(Social Effects)