Causes & Impacts of Flood Disaster in Bangladesh: Special Focus on Public Health
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i12.13236Keywords:
Flood, Causes, Impacts of Flood, Bangladesh, Health Impact.Abstract
Introduction: Bangladesh is one of the disaster-prone countries in the world and the flood is the most
common natural hazard, because of its geographical characteristics, extensive rivers network, climate
change effects, monsoon climate, and the coastal morphology. Aims: This study aimed at exploring the
causes of flood disasters in Bangladesh and its impacts on socioeconomic and public health. Methodology:
This study utilized quantitative data from the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED)
and other databases. Results: From 1985 to 2019 the country has experienced a total of 234 natural disasters
and among total disasters, storm and flood are common disasters which represent 51.71% and 31.62%
respectively. Within 34 years (1985-2019) the country was flooded 74 times and the 10965 people died
with 222371823 people were affected and total economical damage was 12131800 (‘000US$). Conclusion:
The flood impact in Bangladesh on socioeconomic, public health is significant. After the flood, early health
effects are skin infection, pneumonia, respiratory infection and late effects are mosquito-borne illnesses,
hepatitis A or E virus infection, and mental disorders.