Review of science technology and policy for river and coastal flooding

ABSTRACT

This paper looks at the causes and impacts of two natural disasters, river and coastal flooding, through reviews of papers written by people living worldwide and from our own experience or living and working in Bangladesh. We offer no apology for referring frequently to Bangladesh as, more than any other country in the world, it has learned to endure the consequences for these twin events which occur with dreadful regularity. The less well - know fact is that Bangladesh also suffers from water shortage and droughts in its seven month dry season. The paper considers the concepts of vulnerability and hazard, and the changes in our perceptions of them in the light of global climate change. Experiences with physical protection measures, assessing risks and improving warning capacities in the major flood events of recent years are discussed, and strategies for basin wide water resource policies reviewed. The paper concludes by pointing out the benefits which have accrued in richer countries from investments made long ago over many decades in flood control infrastructure, and the advantages of investment in prevention rather than cure for the people still at risk, many of them living in the poorer countries of the world. (AU)