CS - Bangladesh - influence of landscape systems on disease

Why is Bangladesh vulnerable to flooding

• Built on a flood plain

• 3 main rivers run through it, including the Gagnes river

What climate does Bangladesh have

Subtropical monsoon climate

When is rainy season and what happens

June - September

Intense and lengthy rain storms saturate the ground, increasing flood risk

How many people live on low-lying ground

20 million people live only 1 metre above sea level

How do glaciers contribute to the risk?

Melting of Himalayan glaciers

Where are higher rates of flooding and what is the poverty rate

• Northern and central Bangladesh

  • e.g. Sherpur

• Over 35% of the population live in extreme poverty

  • and close to large rivers

Why do the poorest Bangladeshis live in flood zones

• The land is much cheaper

• HOWEVER

• These families often rely on subsistence farming - threatened during monsoon season causing decreased crop yields

  • —> deficiency diseases e.g. rickets or scurvy

Which parts of the country are richer

Southern and Western areas (e.g. Kushta and Bhola) have 6-15% of their populations living in extreme poverty

Why are they richer

Their communities can economically develop much faster because they don’t have to focus on rebuilding and flood protection

Which diseases spike in monsoon season?

• Diarrhoeal diseases - water-borne diseases spread more rapidly

• E.g.: August 2007 cases spiked to over 7000, as 60% of the country was inundated by monsoon rainfall