2024 South Asia Floods

Some geologists have described Tibet as Asia’s water tower. It is home to many rivers that flow downstream, providing almost two billion people with water. Tibet is managed by China as the Tibet Autonomous Region.

In light of recent flooding in Nepal in August and September, there are renewed calls for China to share information about the status of the many glaciers in the Himalayan region (in Tibet but under China’s authority) that are retreating due to climate change. As the glaciers retreat, they form or expand glacier lakes in the Tibetan Plateau. If one of these lakes was to burst, it would cause significant damage in Nepal, India and further downstream.

The flooding in Nepal in August was a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood. A small pair of lakes called Para Chhumo burst their banks sending water more than 6 miles downstream before it hit the village of Thame. The Himalayan lakes are significantly larger.

In a statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said, “Floods on the common rivers between India and Bangladesh are a shared problem inflicting sufferings to people on both sides, and requires close mutual cooperation towards resolving them. As two countries sharing 54 common cross-border rivers, river water cooperation is an important part of our bilateral engagement. We remain committed to resolving issues and mutual concerns in water resources and river water management through bilateral consultations and technical discussions.”

Flooding is a recurrent problem that affects millions of people annually. It is a mix of “geographical, hydrological and meteorological factors, combined with human activities and infrastructure development,” including 30 dams built by India on the numerous cross-border rivers. There are concerns that the change in government will affect treaties and agreements governing water between the countries. However, Muhammad Yunus, chief advisor of the interim government, suggested that the two countries create a high-level committee to manage flooding.

The Diplomat said, “By working together on flood forecasting, emergency response and resource management, Bangladesh and India can not only mitigate the impacts of future disasters but also build a foundation for greater cooperation on other shared challenges.”

India and Pakistan contain one-third (5 million) of the world’s most highly exposed populations due to their proximity to a glacial lake. This also has a significant impact on Bangladesh due to its downstream location from India.

Many countries in South Asia depend on the seasonal rains for farming and filling their reservoirs and aquifers. For example, in most years, monsoons bring about 70% of the rain India needs for these tasks.

However, storm surge and other types of flooding, combined with drought and extreme heat, have significantly impacted farmers this year, destroying crops and poisoning the land.

Additionally, the salination of water due to “floodwater ingress from frequent cyclones” has caused many coastal communities in Bangladesh to not have access to drinking water. They have also had to convert their traditional paddy fields into shrimp ponds because the water is too salty and contaminated to grow rice.

As with most disasters, experts recommend cash donations, which allow on-the-ground agencies to direct funds to the greatest area of need, support economic recovery and ensure in-kind donation management does not detract from disaster recovery needs.

Many people lost everything in the floods. Direct cash assistance allows families to purchase items and services locally that address their multiple needs. It gives each family flexibility and choice, ensuring that support is relevant and timely. Cash assistance can also help move families faster toward rebuilding their lives.

After a disaster, the protection of vulnerable individuals (including women, children, older adults and people with disabilities) and ensuring access to basic rights are immediate priorities. Gender-based violence, including sexual assault and trafficking of vulnerable individuals, is often a priority concern. The protection and security of children are also major concerns.

Since flooding impacted rural populations as well as urban areas, it is particularly important that disaster response and recovery is tailored to the specific needs of the affected communities.

Marginalized people, including refugees, people with disabilities, the elderly, transgender people, women and unaccompanied children, experience greater difficulties in accessing essential aid and services and are vulnerable to abuse, violence and exploitation at points of assistance.