Zawaya

Preventing floods requires land use planning, forest rehabilitation and information sharing between countries

By: Adel Rochdy

Once again, floods have caused casualties and huge economic damages, as Maghreb countries still fail to anticipate natural disasters despite several warnings issued by the United Nations and NGOs.

The issue is obviously not about controlling the flow of rainfall – humans are still unable to do that -, but simply about minimizing its damages.

Houses located in flood zones are the most affected. Therefore, governments should review their land use and urban planning, either by prohibiting construction in risky areas, or by equipping them (with sea walls, dikes, etc.) to prevent downpours from causing major damages.

Deforestation is also among the contributing factors to the disasters caused by downpours that hit some regions in the Maghreb. It’s well-known that water is absorbed by trees’ roots. However, without trees, there are no roots, and water cannot be absorbed. When there is no vegetation, the soil becomes a pile of wet sand that turns into mud that can gobble up houses.

Therefore, instead of deforesting lands to use them for construction, we should proceed to reforestation and seek other solutions for houses.

Everyone is aware of these facts in the 21st century. The issue is not about radically addressing the consequences of bad weather, but rather about substantially reducing its harmful effects.

Maghreb countries seem to be increasingly aware of this problem, and they are implementing appropriate measures to reduce the risks related to it.

But since this is a human problem, populations should be involved in the weather risk management. We ought to educate people about the culture of prevention, just like we conduct awareness campaigns about health issues.

In terms of natural disasters, we should urgently elaborate an emergency rescue plan. Also, local elected officials (especially mayors) should be granted legal and political powers enabling them to initiate relief operations without waiting for permission from central authorities.

The same applies to drafting contingency plans or establishing facilities and equipment designed to face major floods and downpours. Local elected officials and civil society associations should work together, since they are more familiar with the ground than the bureaucrats and technocrats who will decide on their behalf about the appropriate infrastructure.

Last, but not least, it is crucial for Maghreb countries to collaborate and share data and information about weather warnings.