A focus on Governance and Institutional Framework for Cyclone Risk Management in Bangladesh

1. TROPICAL CYCLONE IN BANGLADESH
A FOCUS ON GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
FOR RISK MANAGEMENT
DILARA MEHRAB ARIF

2. CONTENTS
 Formation and Classification of Tropical Cyclone
 Topography of Bangladesh and Vulnerability to Tropical Cyclone
 Significant Cyclones and their Effects in Bangladesh
 Background of disaster risk management in Bangladesh
 Governance and Institutional Arrangements
 Disaster Management Act
 National Plan for Disaster Management
 National Disaster Management Policy
 Standing Orders on Disasters (SOD)
 Disaster Management Institutions
 Additional Risk management measures

3. TROPICAL CYCLONE
 A tropical cyclone is a rapidly
rotating storm system characterized by
a low-pressure center, a closed low-
level atmospheric circulation, strong
winds, and a spiral arrangement
of thunderstorms that produce heavy
rain.
 Cyclones generally begin as distinct
tropical lows with wind speeds no
greater than 17 knots. These cyclones
then progress to depressions of 17 to
33 knots, and then intensify into
hurricanes in North America, typhoons
in the China Seas, or cyclones in the
Indian Ocean

4. FORMATION OFTROPICAL CYCLONE
 The conditions to form cyclone include water temperature that remains at least 26oC
throughout the year
 A water depth of at least 60 metres is needed in an area for the development of a cyclone
 Water depth is important to the formation of cyclones as it promotes the transference of large
amounts of water vapour into the atmosphere, where large quantities of latent heat are released
when the vapour condenses
 The land surface is not able to deliver an equivalent amount of energy into the atmosphere,
therefore tropical cyclones form only over large bodies of water.

5. CLASSIFICATION OFTROPICAL CYCLONE
 Tropical depressions: A tropical disturbance,
that has a clearly defined surface circulation,
which has maximum sustained winds of less
than 63 km/h
 Tropical storms: An organized system of
strong thunderstorms with a defined surface
circulation and maximum sustained winds
between 63 km/h and 119 km/h
 Tropical Cyclone: A system with sustained
winds of at least 119 km/h. A cyclone of
this intensity tends to develop an eye at the
centre of circulation

6. TOPOGRAPHY OF BANGLADESH
 Bangladesh is a deltaic land of about 147,000 km2 in area with the massive Himalayas
to the north and the vast Bay of Bengal on the south.
 The Bay of Bengal, which forms Bangladesh’s coastline is one of the world’s most
active areas for the development of tropical low pressure systems
 10 percent of the world’s
cyclones develop in the Indian
Ocean, particularly in the Bay
of Bengal

7. VULNERABILITY OF BANGLADESHTO CYCLONE
 The conditions for cyclone formation exists in the
Bay of Bengal during April-May and September-
November, in the pre- and post- monsoon months
when the wind field over the bay is conducive to
the necessary low-level inflow and high-level
outflow
 The majority of cyclone damage is caused by wind
speed, storm surges, heavy rains and tornadoes are
hazards associated with cyclones
 Bangladesh has very little coastal orography and
therefore storm surges only a few meters high can
completely overwhelm off-shore islands or travel
far inland along the coast to combine with
rainwater and cause drowning of humans and
animals and widespread destruction caused by
severe flooding

8. SIGNIFICANT CYCLONES IN BANGLADESH
 Over the past 131 years Bangladesh has had 30
cyclones, which have killed an estimated 200 million
people The largest loses of life were from the following
cyclones:
 November 1, 1876 – about 200,000 dead
 November 12, 1970 – up to 500,000 dead
 May 24, 1985 – 11,000 people dead
 April 29, 1991 – 140,000 people dead
 November 29, 1997 – 150,000 people dead
 15 November 2007 Cyclone Sidr -3,500 deaths and
severe damage
 27-29 May 2009 Cyclone Aila- 50 persons killed, 2
lac houses and 3 lac acres of cultivated land and
crops losses

9. BACKGROUND OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH
 Bangladesh, with a large marginalized population, are more vulnerable to the impacts of natural
disasters and therefore the consequences are more severe
 Adaptation is difficult, as Bangladesh’s flood-prone geography and overpopulation. The
inhabitants of the area are compelled to deal with environmental risks as 80% of Bangladesh’s
area consists of very dynamic floodplains and approximately one-third of the country lies less
than 20 feet above sea level
 The problem is likely to intensify if the predicted half-meter sea level rise comes to fruition by
2050, as several models indicate that the sea level rise would inundate 18 approximately 11
percent of Bangladesh territory.
 These threats can be addressed through flexible and adaptive policy frameworks. Government of
Bangladesh is adjusting their disaster management policies to acknowledge that community level
involvement is necessary to risk management and disaster mitigation.

10. BACKGROUND OF DISASTER RISK MANAGEMENT IN BANGLADESH
 The main mission of the Government is to bring about a paradigm shift in the
disaster management approach from conventional response and relief to a
more comprehensive risk reduction culture and to promote food security
to ensure the resilience of communities.
 In April 1993, the Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) and the Ministry of Disaster
Management and Relief (MDMR) was established.
 In May of 2004, the MDMR was renamed as the Ministry of Food and Disaster
Management (MoFDM)
 As a continuation of the paradigm shift process, CDMP, designed as a long-term
programme for the MoFDM with multi-agency involvement, was launched in
November, 2003 to optimize the reduction of long-term risk and to
strengthen operational capacities for responding to emergencies and
disaster situations, including actions to improve recovery from these
events.

11. GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
The Bangladesh Government’s regulatory
framework includes:
• A Disaster Management Act.
• A National Plan for Disaster Management.
• A National Disaster Management Policy.
• Standing Orders on Disasters (SOD) –
guidelines for Government at all Levels

12. GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
Disaster Management Act
 Disaster Management Act is the
legislative tool under which disaster risk
and emergency management actions are
undertaken in Bangladesh. It also
establishes the roles and responsibilities
of Ministries, committees and
appointments.
National Plan for Disaster Management
 The National Plan for Disaster Management is
prepared by the Ministry of Food and Disaster
Management. This plan points the way to a culture of
prevention developed by introducing
 disaster management in school curricula,
 relevant aspects of disaster management in professional
courses,
 enhancing the capacity of disaster managers by better
training facilities and
 by creating massive awareness at all levels.
 The National Plan for Disaster Management
emphasizes
 involving people at the grassroots for better
preparedness and response and
 encouraging community level initiatives for disaster
preparedness.

13. GOVERNANCE AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
National Disaster Management Policy
National Disaster Management Policy has
been formulated
 to define the national perspective on
disaster risk reduction and emergency
management
 to describe the strategic framework
and national principles of disaster
management in Bangladesh.
Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD)
 Standing Orders on Disaster (SOD)
describe the roles and responsibilities
of committees, Ministries and other
organizations involved in disaster risk
reduction and emergency management
activities.

14. DISASTER MANAGEMENT INSTITUTIONS

15. RISK MANAGEMENT MEASURES
 Mainstreaming risk reduction measures in Heath, Education,Agriculture and other
development sector.
 Development of Early warning Mechanism
 Community Based EarlyWarning
 Cell Broadcasting
 InteractiveVoice Response (IVR)
 SMS
 Physical Measures
 Coastal afforestation
 Simulation Exercises
 Cyclone and Flood shelters
 Polders & Embankment in the coastal belt
 River embankment for flood
 Evacuation routes and killahs (High Land)
 National and international partnership for Risk reduction

16. THANKYOU
PREPARED BY: DILARA MEHRAB ARIF, MASTER OF SPRING,TU DORTMUND
DATE: 29.11.2016