Background
Bangladesh as a tropical country enjoys a moderate winter. However in recent years the country has experienced numerous cold waves during the winter. These natural events are termed as disaster when adversely affects the whole environment, including human beings, their shelters, or the resources essential for their livelihoods. For last few years the country had experienced some severe cold waves that caused serious damage, distress and disruption for the affected people. In January 2010 northern and southwest parts of the country experienced a rapid fall in temperature with cold winds and dense fog resulting significant rise in respiratory illnesses, and in some cases deaths, while in January 2011 the Meteorological Department recorded the temperature as 2 to 5 degrees Celsius lower than the normal average temperature (about 10°C) during that time of the year.
The impact of Cold Waves is as notorious as other regular natural calamities of Bangladesh as far as the damage, distress and disruption as well as death toll is in concern. So far the cold wave of January 2011 claimed 39 lives with most victims being children and the elderly. Hospitals in the affected districts have reported higher numbers of admissions with cold weather related illnesses. The weather has also caused crop and other natural resource loss, which will have a longer-term negative impact on the economic situation for the already poor communities in the worst affected areas.
The situation
Bangladesh is currently experiencing a moderate fall in temperature with cold wind and dense fog. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) the temperature will continue to fall throughout December. BMD has also predicted that a further one or two mild/moderate cold waves (08°C - 10°C/ 06°C - 08°C) may sweep across the northern, northeastern and central parts of the country during the end of December, 2012. According to BMD’s Three month forecast for the period of December 2012 to February 2013, in January 2013, 1/2 moderate/severe cold waves (06°C - 08°C/ 04°C - 06°C) in the northern, northeastern and central parts of the country and 2/3 mild/moderate cold waves (08°C - 10°C/ 06°C - 08°C) in other parts of the country are likely to sweep across. The department also predicted one mild cold waves (08°C - 10°C/ 06°C - 08°C) is likely to sweep across the northern and central parts of the country during the early February, 2013.
Recommendations
A huge portion of the population of the country is living under poverty line not having adequate capacity to cope with extreme weather events such as severe cold waves. This form of natural hazard cause serious damage, disruption and distress to them. Edlerly and children tend to suffer more from pneumonia, diarrhoea, asthma and other cold related diseases due to cold waves. Due to dense fog transport systems and ferry services are often cease to function. To sustain such calamities people at the affected areas need external support and aids from the government and other humanitarian agencies prior to the event. Therefore some prior arrangement should be made and preparatory measures should be taken by the respective agencies to protect the affected peoples. Some of the preparatory measures are:
- Special care for aged people mainly the patients of asthma.
- Special care for children under five years.
- Improvement of inhaler facilities at rural medical of effected area.
- Necessary anti-biotic and anti-cold/asthmatic medicine should be reached in effected area at short time.
- Blanket to protect cold.
As emergency relief is not effective after cold waves, prior preparation for emergency response is necessary. Though some of the humanitarian agencies have already started taking prior preparation, all other relevant organisations may need to put some more effort for proper response. Taking proper preparation prior to the predicted events will be more effective for such disaster affected people.
NIRAPAD
19/13 (Ground Floor), Babar Road, Block-B,
Mohammadpur, Dhaka
Email: nirapad@nirapad.org
Web: www.nirapad.org
20/12/2012