The Gambia | Pluvial floods (surface water) - Simplified Early Action Protocol (MDRGM018)
Country: Gambia
Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Please refer to the attached file.
RISK ANALYSIS AND EARLY ACTION SELECTION
Prioritized hazard and its historical impact.
The Gambia, like many other Africa countries, is susceptible to and unable to cope with the adverse effects of climate change, including extreme weather events, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, and other environmental shifts. The terrain is predominantly flat, with a narrow coastal plain and a gently wave-like in the interior The climate of The Gambia is a tropical type with two seasons: 1. a short rainy season from June to October, and 2. a long dry season from November to May. Average annual rainfall varies between 700mm and 1,000 mm according to the Department of Water Resources (DWR). More than 80% of the annual rainfall is recorded between July and September. August is the wettest month with the number of rainy days estimated to be around 19 days. Average temperatures in The Gambia range from 18°C to 30°C during the dry season and 23°C to 33°C during the wet season. According to the National Hazard Profile of The Gambia, flash flooding is one of the highest priority natural hazards in The Gambia.
In the Gambia Pluvial Floods (Surface water floods happen because of heavy and prolonged downpour occurs thus saturating and overwhelming lower grounds and drainage systems. The accumulation of rainwater in compounds, houses, streets, farmlands and low-lying areas with inappropriate waterways (blocked or encroached natural and artificial waterways) usually results in harsh devastation and destruction. These factors are aggravated by the rapid urbanization & the rapid growth of unregulated expansion of settlement patterns and systems in the country.
These Pluvial floods ( surface water) are amplified by several factors, including:
• Lack of drainage and waste management: Inadequate drainage systems and poor waste management exacerbate flash flooding problem by causing blockages of canals, culverts and other water ways and reducing the capacity of drainage infrastructurehttps://gambia.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/UNDAC-Gambia_Floods-RNAR-ENG-Web.pdf causing widespread contamination of water bodies, submerge homes, roads, and farmland.
Pluvial floods (surface water) has had a major impact in The Gambia over the past years, affecting the country’s social, economic and environmental aspects:
• Disruption of daily life: Every year, Pluvial floods (flash floods and surface water) affect thousands of people living in both urban and local communities, forcing them to flee their homes, lose property and find themselves in precarious living conditions. populations at risk, including those living in informal urban areas or near rivers, are particularly affected.
• Public health: Stagnant water creates an environment conducive to the proliferation of water-related diseases such as cholera, malaria and diarrhea. Contamination of drinking water by wastewater and the accumulation of waste aggravate the health risks for the population. Economic losses: In general, flash flood impacts include, destruction of houses and infrastructures Roads, schools. Telecommunications, electricity supply, transportation infrastructure, markets, businesses pollution and displacement among others which negatively impact local economies. Agriculture, a key sector for The Gambia, is also heavily affected, as farmland are submerged, leading to crop loss and reduced food production.
• Displacement of Families: Due to the scale of the floods, many people are forced to leave their homes and migrate to other areas, increasing the pressure on local resources and contributing to the rapid urbanization of some cities, further worsening living conditions and sanitation problems.
• Environmental destruction: Flash Flooding washes away agricultural soil, destabilizing ecosystems, and contributing to biodiversity loss. Increased wastewater and the destruction of natural habitats are affecting animal and plant species.
• Loss of lives and injuries During the past 2 rainy seasons Flash Flood has caused more than 10 deaths and has caused dozens injured. Most of these deaths and injuries were caused by collapsed buildings. ...