Cyclones and flooding
The coastal region of Bangladesh is especially prone to cyclones.[10] Between 1793 and 1996, there has been one cyclone about every 4.5 years. This has a detrimental effect on the local environment, as well as on families and their property. For instance, a cyclone that hit in 1970 caused 300,000 deaths and 86.4 million USD of property damage.[10] Cyclones can detrimentally affect the food production of the area. In 1991, a cyclone caused the destruction of 60% of the cattle stock in the affected area, 80% of the poultry stock in the affected area, and exposed 72,000 ha of rice paddies to saltwater.[10]
Cyclones can cause storm surges, which further affect those who live in coastal areas. Furthermore, it adds to the flooding that the area is already prone to. 20 to 22% of the land is flooded between June and October.[13] Studies by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have shown that climate change and the resulting rising sea levels would further exacerbate this.[13] For example, a 45 cm increase in sea level would result in 75% of the mangrove forest area being flooded.[10] Furthermore, increased sedimentation in the watersheds may lead to more flooding.[14]
Flooding has been cited as one of the "main obstacle[s] to the economic improvement of the nation". It affects the agricultural economy and the food security of the nation since almost 74% of the land is cultivated. If significant portions of this land become flooded, it cannot be used to produce agricultural products. Flooding tends to disproportionately affect the poorer more, with the poor being 2.5 times more likely to be "severely distress[ed]" during flooding than the wealthy.[13]
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