Overview
The monsoon season is South Asia has caused severe flooding in many countries, especially Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
While water is an ever-present part of life in these countries, there have been several significant floods this year, wreaking havoc in many communities.
Flooding events included Severe Cyclonic Storm Remal, which made landfall in Bangladesh on May 26. Heavy rains continued throughout June and July, with flooding conditions present around June 16, late June to early July, July 18 and then Aug. 15-26. Nepal experienced flooding at the end of September, affecting India and Bangladesh as well. In total, several million people have been affected.
According to a 2021 study, global heating is making the South Asian monsoon season more intense and erratic. In 2024, monsoon rains began earlier than usual.
(Photo: Two men guide a cart carrying two women and a child through neck-deep water in Fulgazi, Feni, Bangladesh. Copyright: BRAC/Mozammel Haque)
Latest Updates
What we’re watching: Weekly disaster update, September 2
Key facts
- Response and recovery in Bangladesh are complicated by political instability and reported widespread corruption, the devastating impacts of climate change, and high unemployment rates, especially among youth. Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, resigned and fled to India in early August. Economist and Noble Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus and several advisors were sworn in as Bangladesh’s interim government.
- The number of deaths is constantly changing as new areas become accessible or communication is restored.
- In Thailand, there were 24 deaths in the last half of August from flooding.
- From June to September, there were at least 250 deaths in India and almost 200 in each of Nepal and Bangladesh.
- Save the Children says that half of the 300 deaths in Pakistan since July were children.
- The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society says more than 500,000 people are displaced in that country alone, with most staying in evacuee relief camps.
- Rain in mid-August in the state of Tripura, India, resulted in “some of the most severe floods since 1983, according to local media. The rains along with over 2,000 resulting landslides, reportedly affecting 1.7 million people, including around 117,000 who have been displaced to relief camps set up by district authorities.”
- Thame, one of the most famous small villages in Nepal, was destroyed in August by a glacier lake outburst flood. Thame was home to many of the sherpas who supported trekkers climbing Everest. Part of the Everest trail was also washed away.
- One of the hardest-hit communities in Bangladesh is Cox’s Bazar, home to nearly one million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, including 800,000 people living in the largest and densest refugee camp in the world, Kutupalong. This is an extremely vulnerable population, even without a climate disaster.
Nepal floods
Rain (as much as 12.7 inches in some places) on Sept. 27-29 led to massive flash flooding and several landslides in Nepal. Landslides trapped hundreds of people on highways for hours or caused the vehicles they were in, including several buses, to be washed away.
There are reports of at least 224 deaths (including at least 35 children), 158 injuries and 24 people missing.
The rain caused Kathmandu’s main river, the Bagmati, to rise seven feet above the danger level. Many of the 7,600 families affected lived in informal settlements that were washed away by the river and flood water. However, the build-up of Kathmandu around the river is also responsible for the damage. Experts said this included deforestation, rapid growth leading to disorganized urban planning and development, paving over agricultural land and not updating the drainage system.
Electrical production in Nepal was lowered as the floods damaged 16 hydroelectric power plants.
The rain led to flooding in India and Bangladesh. At least 100,000 people were stranded by the water in Bangladesh.
The village of Thame, home of Sherpa mountaineers like Tenzing Norgay, flooded in August when a pair of lakes burst, destroying 23 homes and damaging 40 others.
Many people are isolated in small, rural villages because of the flooding. People need urgent emergency relief support, including medicine, food, clothing, cattle feed, hygiene and dignity kits, temporary shelter materials and clean water. When the roads flood, they are often impassable due to damage or water, or can only be accessed by small vehicles that cannot hold a lot of supplies.
Water challenges in South Asia
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.
Livelihoods and agriculture
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.
Cash assistance
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.
Protection
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.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) has a Global Recovery Fund that allows donors to meet the ongoing and ever-expanding challenges presented by global crises. Select 2024 South Asia Floods from the dropdown menu.
Contact CDP
Philanthropic contributions
If you have questions about donating to the CDP Global Recovery Fund, need help with your disaster-giving strategy or want to share how you’re responding to this disaster, please contact development.
(Photo: Flooding in Bangladesh, August 2024. Photo credit: CARE)
Recovery updates
If you are a responding NGO, please send updates on how you are working on recovery from this disaster to Tanya Gulliver-Garcia.
We welcome the republication of our content. Please credit the Center for Disaster Philanthropy.
More ways to help
CDP recommends that you ask the experts if you are considering supporting an organization or fund that is positioned to work in an affected area.
- CDP’s team is ready to help you with resources and support on responding to this disaster. You can find a variety of helpful resources on our website or reach out to one of the contacts above for more information.
- InterAction can provide resources and guidance about organizations working in affected communities.
- The Council on Foundations provides Country Notes for several countries to help foundations understand giving requirements, laws and regulations in various countries. Country notes for India are available.
Resources
Floods
Flooding is our nation’s most common natural disaster. Regardless of whether a lake, river or ocean is actually in view, everyone is at some risk of flooding. Flash floods, tropical storms, increased urbanization and the failing of infrastructure such as dams and levees all play a part — and cause millions (sometimes billions) of dollars in damage across the U.S. each year.
Emergency and Interim Shelter
After a disaster, shelter is more than a place to rest, it is a place of security, access to food, water and medical treatment. A place to start recovering after a disaster.
Monsoon Seasons
While often thought of as long-term heavy rain over a specific area, a monsoon is actually the name for a seasonal change in the direction of the prevailing winds. It can bring either extremely wet or extremely dry weather to an area.
