AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSES AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF FLOOD DISASTER ON HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CAUSES AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF FLOOD DISASTER ON HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT

CHAPITRE ONE

INTRODUCTION

African countries have been identified as among the most vulnerable places in the world due to climate change and climate variability, with anthropogenic activities contributing to the extreme rise in global atmospheric temperature and the resulting climate change phenomena (IPCC, 2007). Flooding occurs when a typically dry area becomes flooded or covered with water (Oxford advanced learner dictionary). The main characteristics of these climate changes are increases in average global temperature (global warming), changes in cloud cover and precipitation, particularly over land, melting of ice caps and glaciers, and decreased snow cover (UNFCC, 2007).

These consequences render cities more sensitive to climate change. To put it another way, climate change has become a global hazard to human survival. It is therefore critical that national and local governments take the required steps to limit the degree of vulnerability caused by climate change and its accompanying dangers. Flooding has major consequences on people’s social, economic, environmental, physical, and psychological well-being, as well as a country’s political and institutional levels.

As a result, it is critical that developing nations’ susceptibility to climate change be decreased and their capacity to adapt strengthened at the national, regional, and community levels (UNFCCC, 2007). Climate change in general (as measured by temperature, precipitation, and the number of rain days per year) has a positive and significant link with flooding and related extreme occurrences.

In all parts of the world, flooding is seen as a key example of climate change-related disasters (IPCC, 2007). It is frequently maintained that the higher the volume of precipitation and the number of rain days per year, the greater the risk of flooding.

Flooding is regarded as one of the most dangerous, common, and widespread natural disasters, yet it appears to be a part of the life of several communities around the world (Lawford et al, 1995; Dar and Nadargi, 2001; Schanze et al, 2006). Flooding has a primarily negative socioeconomic impact on the well-being of flood-prone communities. People are displaced, buildings fall, lives are lost, priceless papers are damaged, and unplanned migration occurs, among other things. As a result, important information for persons living in flood-prone locations is how frequently and how severe the floods may be. “Surface water (pluvial) flooding, one type of flooding, is closely associated with intense, often localized, storms that overwhelm the capacity of local drains, causing flash floods,” according to RICS 2009. Pluvial flooding is common in metropolitan settings with vast expanses of impermeable ground and insufficient drainage infrastructure. Water scarcity, drought, food shortages, starvation, increased disease vectors, higher storm surges, and frequent flooding are all known effects of climate change. Droughts and floods, for example, such as the African Sahel droughts and significant floods in Mozambique, have resulted in ‘environmental refugees’ (Action Aid, 2006). The consequences of these issues extend far beyond the individual and, in certain cases, threaten the weak national economies (Rain et al, 2011). It is critical to emphasize that these new obstacles will not only make meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) more difficult, but they may also jeopardize some of the gains made in eradicating extreme poverty and illness. Climate

Change is reported to be worsening and disrupting people’s delicate well-being. Water is essential to life, but too much water or water that arrives at an unexpected time or in an unexpected location can be a major issue. Flooding frequency and occurrence may increase as temperature and rainfall intensity rise (Afeku, 2005). Flooding is defined as a reasonably high flow of water that overflows the natural runoff path. Floods are classified based on their source (heavy rainfall, tidal extremes, structural breakdown) and their nature (e.g., regularity, speed of onset, velocity and depth of water, spatial and temporal scale) (Ahern, 2005).

Flooding is classified into several types based on its duration. Slow-Onset Floods typically last for a longer length of time; they may last for one or more weeks, or even months. Because this type of flood lasts for a long time, it can cause stock losses, harm to agricultural products, and damage to highways and rail links. Rapid-Onset Floods have a shorter duration, usually lasting only one or two days. Although this type of flood lasts less time, it can inflict more damage and represent a greater risk to life and property since people have less time to take protective measures during rapid-onset floods. Flash floods can occur within minutes or hours of torrential rainfall, a tropical cyclone, dam or levee failure, or the release of ice jams.

The most prevalent sort of flooding is river flooding. When the real volume of river flow exceeds the capacity of the channel, the river will overrun its banks and flood the places along the river. Snow melt or severe spring rains could be the culprits. Furthermore, movements toward urbanization may enhance flood hazards. According to Hollis (2003), as referenced in RICS (2009), more infrastructures such as roads and hard pavement surfaces exacerbate the problem of urban run-off and, as a result, the resulting effect of floods. Unless built for, these paved surfaces, which are commonly found in metropolitan buildings, impede natural infiltration.

As a result, urban floods are exacerbated. This study is interested in floods caused by rain and overflowing dams and rivers.

The Health Consequences of a Flood.

The health impacts of sanitation are related. Flooding has numerous health consequences for people. Insects and mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, creating malaria. People who are in direct contact with flood waters suffer from injuries and illnesses such as skin rashes and fever.

During flooding, epidemics and diseases such as the common cold, flu, cholera, pneumonia, and malaria spread. The flooding disaster causes an outbreak of diseases in the populations, including malaria and diarrhea. The ailments add to the load on household costs; those who cannot afford the medical fees are in difficulties.