Analysis of the Impact of Natural Disasters: the Situation in Bhutan

Bhutan’s landscape comprises of steep mountains, rugged land and deep valleys that forms main geographical areas of Bhutan. The land rises from 200 meters above sea level from southern foothills to 7000 meters high northern mountains. Within this range, a diverse biodiversity is found such as flora, fauna, rivers and mountains. It’s climate varies from hot subtropical in the south to cold alpine slopes in the north. Human settlements are mostly occupied to river valleys and southern plains, other live in the northern mountains.

Though Bhutan is blessed with a pristine natural resources, it is exposed to various of natural disaster such as flash floods, landslides, earthquakes, glacial lake outburst and droughts. Seasonal monsoon rains and glacial melts are the most prominent cause of flash floods and landslides. These are the environmental issues in Bhutan among other issues like air pollution, water scarcity, land degradation, climate change, etc. Natural disaster often destroy facilities (schools, health unit, agriculture, etc) which are meant to keep people living. If these facilities are destroyed, there is likely to be escalation in diseases since hygienic conditions degraded as a result of the natural disaster. The most affected ones are the poor people who depends on agricultural practices rather than high standard people. Depsite the impact of natural disaster, “Bhutan is strongly committed to disaster risk management (DRM) and is partnering with development institutions including such as World Bank, to strengthen its hydrological meteorological services and better preparedness for disasters in upcoming future”.

In the past years, Bhutan has experienced glacial lake outburst floods(GLOF), flash floods and landslides that have caused severe damages such as homes, paddy fields, human infrastructures were washed away, and have resulted in deaths. Even our environment have been harmed where habitat of wild life, new growth of trees, soils and rivers system are greatly disturbed. Rothacher claims that Bhutan was targeted to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFS) in the northern part of Lunana area on 1994 which lead to death of 21 persons. The dam of a glacial lake outburst had ravage part of the age-old Punakha dzong, bridges washed away, several houses were damaged, paddy fields washed, most important reserved food grains lost and even caused health effects to the public such as diseases linked to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. Immediately after the incident, his majesty sent a team of geologist, environmentalist, forestry staffs and government officials into the area. It was found that erosion and sedimentation were major hazard associated with GLOF and great loss of biodiversity. Nevertheless, to assure this disaster, the government has close eye monitored on glaciers daily basis, information on dangerous glacial lakes are updated to create awareness to people. UNDP supported by National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA), Bhutan is currently implementing a climate change adaptation UNDP project. This project will mainstream climate risk and ensures that existing early warning system in the designated area.

In Bhutan, flash floods and landslides are the common natural disaster and it starts from May to August month especially in the southern part of Bhutan. Due to heavy rainfall, the volume of rivers increases leading to floods and landslides along the roads, settlements and bridges. In the past 10 years, the country has seen several disasters caused by water. Of which, the incident happened in 2016 southern Bhutan monsoon floods. It faced worst natural disaster and is recorded as heavy monsoon than usual affecting almost all of Bhutan especially in Sarpang area. It was terrible affected, damages were road network suffered extensive damage, numerous roads remain blocked due to landslides and erosion, bridges were washed away and many vehicles flooded. People were homeless and they lost their basic belongings to flash floods. The floods also affected the GDP of Bhutan which declined by 0.36%. Yearly, landslides and floods are becoming a major problem for Bhutanese travelers. Researcher from Hungary claimed that they have experienced flash floods causing economic loss, watershed damages and certain death. However, there were no damages on environment and no reports were recorded during flash floods in 2016. Flash floods are natural phenomenal and it causes negative impact. That is why now the government of Bhutan is employed with manpower and it has relief supplies and funds to help the affected Bhutanese people. The Royal Government of Bhutan has installed more than 100 weather forecast and warning system across the country. The United Nations in Bhutan has offered technical staff to assist the government and department of disaster management in the ongoing damage assessment.

Bhutan has a high risk of earthquake due to its nearness to seismically active Himalayan belt. Several earthquakes above magnitude 6 have occurred over the past 40 years. In 2009 and 2011, Bhutan was struck by two high-magnitude earthquakes. According to the report, 60 percent of Bhutanese building is constructed in traditional style such as muddy and stone. That is why during tremor, cracks are seen on buildings and some collapse due to weak construction. Roads, bridges, dzongs, buildings are most affected by earthquake and some have resulted in death. Monsoon season makes worst situations for travelers in Bhutan because continuous rainfall makes the soil loose and when earthquakes come, landslides are the common problem. Thus, road network are hindered. Today, although there is no permanent seismological network operating in Bhutan, researchers are putting efforts to come up ways. “Following the September 21, 2009 earthquake which claimed 12 lives and caused losses of 54 million dollar . Bhutan set down on 1.29 million dollars improve resilience in building construction to seismic risk policy funded by the japan policy and human resources development technical assistance program to support disaster reduction and recovery”. Therefore, to combat such disaster Bhutan National Earthquake Monitoring Network has now expanded with additional seismic stations. It has also developed mitigation measures for schools and institutions.

To conclude Bhutan lies on mountainous region and it is land locked country neighboring India in the West and China in the North by two developed nation. It experience same natural disaster like other countries faces but the impact differs as it depends on population and geographical area. As seen above, most common natural disaster are flash floods, earthquakes and glacial lake outburst in Bhutan. Damages are not minimal as it cause deaths, destruction of human infrastructure, people are homeless, economic activities are affected and people lived in fear. We know disaster recovery is possible, because we have seen it in action. Luckily, we are bestowed as it is ruled by his majesty guided with mission and vision for people living in Bhutan. Initiatives are taken by government to combat natural disaster, situations are monitored, awareness are created and mitigation measures are implemented in schools and institutions. Funds and supplies are sponsored by big organization for instance United Nation, United Nation Development Programme,World Health Organization, etc. However, we will not be able to completely avert natural disaster to happen. Instead, we should improve our emergency measures and mitigation in order to save lives. All the countries should work together in order to alleviate the problem of natural disaster and ensures a better place for the future generations.

References

• Bhutan: Flash Floods Situation Report. Bhutan: United Nation RC for Bhutan. 2016
• GLOF. (2014). Retrieved from Department of Disaster Management: http://www.ddm.gov.bt/glof
• Lamsang, T. (2019, 06 04). The Bhutanese. Retrieved from The Bhutanese: http://www.thebhutanese.bt/study-shows-vulnerabilities-for-bhutan-in-case-of-the-big-quake
• Rothacher, T. W. (1996). The 1994 Lugge Tsho glacial lake outburst flood, Bhutan Himalaya. Researchgate, 77-81.
• Szabolcs Czigany, E. P. (2008). Envirnonmental impacts of flash floods in Hungary. ResearchGate, 1439-1447.
• Tshering, D. (2018, October 01). End poverty in south asia. Retrieved from World bank blogs: http://www.blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/building-bhutan-s-resilience-disasters-and-climate-change
• Tshering, D. (2019, April 23). End poverty south asia. Retrieved from world bank blogs: http;//blogs.worldbank.org/endpovertyinsouthasia/how-can-bhutan-better-prepare-earthquake