ALIYU SALISU BARAU

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ALIYU SALISU BARAU
Patterns of Flood-induced Population Displacement
and its Management in Southern Peninsular Malaysia

• Aliyu Salisu Barau
• Universiti Teknologi Malaysia
• July, 2013

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Introduction

• Natural and human-induced disasters are steadily
  rising across the globe (McBean, 2012).
• In 2010 950 natural catastrophes were recorded,
  about 90 of which are climate-related

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Research Objectives

• This paper examines interface of
  landscape/climate change induced flood events in
  Southern Malaysia
• It identifies drivers, and spatio-temporal
  patterns of displacements, management strategies,
  and implications of flood-induced displacements
  in the context of Nansen Principles.

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Flood Disasters The Malaysian Experience

• Flooding is Malaysias key natural disaster
  affecting 22 of its population with recurring
  annual damages close to 300 million
• Malaysias notable flood incidents were recorded
  in 1920, 1926, 1963, 1965, 1967, 1969, 1971,
  1973, 1979, 1983, 1988, 1993, 1998, 2005
• The 2006/2007 floods considered worst in the
  recent history of Malaysia caused severe damages
  that stood at 800 million to the economy of the
  Malaysias southern state of Johor
• The 2006/2007 Johor floods came in two phases
  -19th December 2006, 12th January 2007 striking
  the states eight districts. The total number of
  displaced people from the two incidents stood at
  157,018 and 155,368 respectively

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Study Methods

• The study is based on desktop sources and remote
  sensing images analysis.
• The desktop sources were mainly based on
  published sources, and meteorological recorded
  data.
• Land use and climate change linkage was
  established through analysis of 2010 Spot
  Satellite image with 30 meters resolution.
• The analysis of the image was conducted through
  Erdas Imagine software
• Both desktop sources and image analysis gave the
  outline of flood-induced displacement.

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Climate Change and Flood Incidence in Johor

• Previously Johor was relatively more secured to
  flood compared to other states in the Peninsular
  Malaysia.
• Johor became worst hit by 2007 floods and
  subsequent ones that followed in 2011 and 2012
  resulting in population displacement.
• Meteorologists established that, the 2007 flood
  storms in Johor were caused by change in wind
  flow characteristics (Tangang et al. 2008,
  Shafiei, 2009).

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Land Use Change and Flood Vulnerability in Johor

• While the climate change thesis is not
  dismissible as shown above, the analysis of Spot
  image demonstrated that between 2006 and 2010,
  massive land use change prevailed in the
  southernmost point of Johor. The spatial patterns
  of changes during the said four years are shown
  in bluish colour in the Figure

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Spatio -Temporal Patterns of Flood and
Displacement in Southern Johor

• From 2006,2007,20110, 2011and 2012 flood
  incidents occurred between November to January is
  the periods of maximum rainfall
• Many people were displaced from December 19-30,
  2006 in most parts of southern Johor. On 11
  January 2007 another wave of flood occurred
  leading to another wave of displacement (see
  2006/2006 tables of displaced people).

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2006 Displaced Persons Demographics
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2007 Displaced Persons Demographics
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Johor Flood Displacement in the Context of Nansen
Principles/Initiative

• The Nansen Principle 1 stressed the role of sound
  and adequate knowledge in tackling displacement.
  In the context of Southern Johor, it is shown
  that rapid landscape transformation is the main
  driver of flood incidents triggered by climate
  change.
• The Nansen Principle II emphasised the
  obligations of the State on the rights of
  vulnerable population among others through
  legislations, policies, institutions and
  investment of adequate resources-Malaysia has
  over the years developed a satisfactory and
  coordinated flood risk management strategies that
  started from structural measures, non-structural
  measures and integrated flood risk management

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Johor Flood Displacement in the Context of Nansen
Principles/Initiative

• Malaysia has also provided a good example of the
  role of local governments and civil society
  groups as enunciated by Nansen Principle III.
  Local authorities coordinate most of evacuation
  in collaboration with several organisations such
  as emergency services, security forces and civil
  societies who work to ensure the wellbeing of the
  displaced persons.
• In line with Nansen Principles VI, V and VII,
  Malaysia has collaborated with several relevant
  international and regional bodies in sharing
  information about displaced persons. The evidence
  of this is shown in several reports such as those
  published by the Japan based Asian Disaster Risk
  Center

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Johor Flood Displacement in the Context of Nansen
Principles/Initiative

• In what seems compatible to Nansen Principle
  VIII, the Operation Procedure No. 29 published by
  the National Security Council as well as the
  Guidelines for Management of Flood Disasters
  during the Monsoon Season and Flash Floods have
  emphasised the need to cater for the needs of
  displaced persons these needs include food,
  shelter, security, healthcare and others
• The Nansen Principle IX and X are about
  development framework for management of displaced
  persons and engaging them. For this Malaysia has
  developed a long term experience with structural
  management of floods and could share and learn
  from experiences of other countries and
  international initiatives.

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Conclusions

• The resulting situation of massive displacements
  could be explained as a defining feature of the
  increased human population vulnerability in the
  Anthropocene era.
• Population displacements being witnessed in many
  parts of the world are mainly handwork of human
  impact on the fragile earth system.
• Based on experience of southern Johor in
  Peninsular Malaysia, it is evident that areas
  previously considered less prone to devastating
  flood could be overwhelmed by floods and
  population displacement as a result climate and
  land use and land cover change.

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Conclusions

• Based on the Malaysian experience, it is
  understandable that integrated flood management
  strategies for displaced persons must be built on
  or integrated with existing national and
  community development, good governance, and
  transparency and accountability of the public
  sector.
• It is important to note that population size and
  level of economic and political development of a
  particular country can affect level of response
  measures for its displaced persons.

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Thank You