Braving climate risk: Food security and alternative livelihood hold the key

Editorial, The Daily Star, October 23, 2010

Bangladesh being one of the nations perilously exposed to the threat of climate change, it needs to develop strategies to cope with the unfolding climate change-related calamities like tidal surges, cyclones, floods, droughts, downpours and so on. And since it is the poor who always bear the brunt of these vagaries of nature, the coping or adaptation strategies must place their realities at the centre stage of climate change concerns.

In the circumstances, the coping and adaptation strategies will have to make provisions to reduce the risks the poor are exposed to and build their resilience in the face of the unfolding disasters.

One of the gravest risks to our population that would come in the wake of climate change is food shortage, since traditional farming will be severely affected resulting in crop failures. And with our food security already facing serious challenge from overpopulation, climate change threatens to render the situation more difficult.

Keeping all these complex issues in view, the government and its development partners have been developing various adaptation strategies, especially for the section of the population most vulnerable to the problem.

Recurrent tidal surges, floods, droughts, increasing salinity. etc will force people to change their settlement styles and livelihood patterns. The government organisations and other bodies working to help the vulnerable section of the population will have to provide them with housing facilities that can endure the floods and cyclones and alternative means of living suited to changed farming practices and other livelihood-related activities.

At a recently held workshop organised by a UK-based organisation named ‘Practical Action, Bangladesh’ in the city dedicated to helping the poor develop resilience against climate change, stress was given on food security with diversification of livelihood options through the use of new technologies. And to implement the strategy, community-based activities and involvement of the local government bodies as well as the service providers were given the highest priority.

In fact, the vulnerable section of society needs to be made amply aware of the nature of the dangers they would be facing before they could be effectively mobilised to meet the challenges of climate change. Alternative livelihood will necessitate search for new resource base for sustenance of the population, which at the same time has to be sustainable. And since the different aspects of the challenge are emerging in phases, the approach to tackle them should advisably be a multi-pronged one.

The good news is the people have already proved their resilience in braving the natural calamities that have recurrently struck them. The added burden of climate challenge will only put them through a new test of endurance and adaptation. If the government and others concerned can provide them with the necessary support and know-how to cope and adapt, the people will also be able to take the new challenge in their stride.

10 Satkhira villages flooded as dyke collapses

 

The Daily Star, October 26, 2010

At least 10 villages in Munsiganj and Romjan Nagar unions under Shyamnagar upazila were inundated as water entered the area through the collapsed embankment on the Mirganj River by heavy pressure of water due to violent tide on October 23 night.

The embankment covering 100 yards at Bhetkhali went into the river due to heavy pressure of water caused by high tide.

The affected villagers are trying to reconstruct the damaged embankments on self-help basis but they failed due to heavy pressure of water following violent tide of the river.

The affected villages are Jyotindra Nagar, Chhoto Bhetkhali, Boro Bhetkhali, Tangrakhali, Mirgang, Parshekhali, Romjan Nagar, Dhumghat and two other adjoining villages in Padmapukur union.

Over 5,000 people of the villages in the two unions were marooned and they took shelter on high lands in the areas. Fishes worth Tk 20 crore were washed away as shrimp enclosures on 4,000 acres of land were inundated, Zillur Rahman of village Jyotindra Nagar said.

The vast areas covering 10 villages in the unions were flooded following collapse of the embankments at the point on the Mirganj River by heavy pressure of water due to violent tide, he said.

Executive Engineer Mujibar Rahman of Satkhira Water Development Board (WDB) Division-1 said the embankment was devoured by the river due to strong current.

Local people are trying to reconstruct the collapsed embankments but failed due to heavy pressure of water, they said.