International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Importance, Key Questions

on Resilience and Managing

Disasters in the Hindu Kush

Himalayas

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Supports extensive irrigation systems

HKH is the source of ten major river

basins

210 million

people in the

HKH

1.3 billion people

downstream

3 billion people

benefit from food

and energy

Basins support some of the most

populated areas on the globe

Home to

4 of the 34 Global Biodiversity Hotspots,

60 Eco-regions, 488 Pas, and 330 Important Bird Areas

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

Major Questions on the HKH Region that

needs to be addressed

looking into the

Future

Drivers of change and impacts on

resources and people

Increased

scarcity of

drinking water

Loss of productive

lands

Increased incidence

of forest fires

Habitat loss for wildlife and productive

lands for domestic animals

Natural springs and

water sources drying

up

Climate change impacts on cryosphere

and future water availability

Sustaining mountain ecosystems and their

services - green economy

Energy needs, hydropower and

sustainable development of the HKH

Huge Hydropower Potential >500,000 MW in the HKH Region

Water induced disasters

Flash floods result

in higher mortality

rates

Flood

Landslide/Avalanche

Famine

Water rel. Epidemic

Drought

Jonkman, 2005

Poverty, vulnerability and food security

Gender in sustainable mountain

development including out-migration

Migration

International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

Kathmandu, Nepal

The Himalayas are prone to

disasters

Disaster statistics from 1990-2012 Hindu Kush Himalayan region

The region has had an average of

76 disaster events each year.

On average, more than 36,000

people are killed and 178 million affected each year due to

natural disasters in the region.

Source: EM-DAT – The OFDA/CRED International Disaster Database

Cum

ula

tive d

isaste

r eve

nt

Flash floods result

in higher mortality

rates

Flood

Landslide/Avalanche

Famine

Water rel. Epidemic

Drought

Jonkman, 2005

Water-related hazards

Transboundary floods have greater

impact on lives and property

Globally, 10% of all floods are transboundary, and they cause over 30%

of all flood casualties and account for close to 60% of all those displaced

by floods.

Bakker, 2006

Lack of information, little preparation

9 April 2000: Landslide blocked

the Yigong River, a tributary of

the Yarlung Zangbo

(Brahmaputra) River

Outburst on 10 June 2000

created a huge flash flood of up

to 1.26x105 m3/s

Extensive damage, but no

casualties in China

In India, heavy causalities

- 30 dead

- >100 missing

- >50,000 homeless

- damage of USD 22.9 million

Data sharing can save lives and

property

Data sharing agreement developed between India

and China in 2002

22 June 2004: Landslide blocked the Pareechu River

in Tibet (upper reaches of Sutlej River)

Lake volume - 79,180,000 m3

Chinese authorities communicated to their Indian

counterparts well before and when the breach

occurred

56 villages along the Sutlej from Kinnaur to Bilaspur

were identified as at risk

The dam burst on 25 June 2005

The direct cost of flood damage was an estimated

USD 200 million

There were no human casualties because of prior

communication from the upstream country

1 month after

landslide

2.5 months after

landslide

After landslide

dam outburst

Lessons learned from disasters

Data gaps

End-to-end information systems

Proper infrastructure planning

Overarching need for transboundary

cooperation

Data gaps

• High-altitude monitoring stations are sparse

• Limited transboundary data sharing

Monitoring station distribution

Designing end-to-end flood information

system

Regional cooperation to share data:

Global WHYCOS framework

To improve basic observation activities, strengthen international cooperation,

and promote free exchange of data in the field of hydrometeorology

HKH-HYCOS: Setting up monitoring

stations and establishment of real-time

flood information systems

‘Making Information Travel Faster Than Flood Waters’

Establishment of a Regional

Flood Information System in the

HKH-Region - Timely exchange of

flood data and information through

an accessible and user friendly

platform

HYCOS is a vehicle for technology transfer,

training, and capacity building

High-tech, low-cost early flood warning

system in Bangladesh using a wireless

sensor network

Control Unit

Flood Gauge

Rain Gauge

Flood Early Warning System “AL6M”

Manufactured by

Sustainable Eco Engineering Pvt. LtdPatan, Lalitpur -16, Nepal

Low-tech, low cost, community-based

flood early warning system in Assam

ICIMOD’s state-of-the-art MODIS receiving

facility helps provide timely data for various

applications, including early flood and fire

detection

MODIS receiving facility MODIS images are used for national

and regional level mapping including

rapid response mapping after a flood

event.

Visit http://geoportal.icimod.org/realtime/modis.aspx# to visualize MODIS image.

Conclusion

• Need for end-to-end information systems

– Hi-tech to low-tech

– Science to government to community

• Infrastructure planning

– Identify risks and vulnerabilities

• Mountain specific planning

• Transboundary information sharing

– Sharing mechanisms

• Underpinned by regional cooperation

Thank you Thank you