Farid Hasan Ahmed :
A cold wave is a weather phenomenon that is distinguished by a cooling of the air. It is a rapid fall in temperature within a 24 hour period requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities. People of Bangladesh are used to face normal winter season when the average temperature remains 13°C-20°C. But when the temperature falls down to a single digit, the hazard cold wave turns to a disaster like situation.
Winter cold waves that aren’t considered cold in some areas, but cause temperatures significantly below average for an area, are also destructive. Areas with subtropical climates may recognize unusual cold, perhaps barely freezing, temperatures, as a cold wave. In such places, plant and animal life is less tolerant of such cold as may appear rarely. Likewise, unusual cold waves that penetrate into tropical countries in which people do not normally insulate houses or have reliable heating may cause hypothermia.
Occurrences of extreme low temperature in association with incursion of dry cold winds from North into Indian sub-continent are known as cold waves.
Bangladesh is currently experiencing severe cold waves in the winter for last few years. In December and January, Bangladesh suffers from cold temperatures. Northern and southwest parts of the country experiences a fall in temperature in these two months. Poor people in the northern part of the country are the worst affected.
Consequences of cold waves in Bangladesh: a) Biting cold coupled with dense fog paralyze normal life both in the urban and rural areas of Bangladesh in winter Season (mainly in December and January).A cold wave sweeps across the country intensify suffering of the poor. Cold wave sometimes claims the lives. b) The poor people, particularly the asset less people in the vulnerable region, are the most sufferers, as they lack sufficient warm clothes) Many people, especially children and elderly men, are affected with various cold-related diseases.d) Crops especially potato, wheat, boro seedling and vegetables are vulnerable particularly to long lasting cold wave. Farmers and day laborers cannot work in the field due to cold.(e) Thick fog together with harsh cold disrupts movement of all modes of transport across the country, causing immense sufferings to passengers.
The cold wave that appeared on the January 2013 in Bangladesh took more than 72 lives. Most of these deaths were children who suffered from pneumonia, cold diarrhea, cough, fever, asthma and other cold-related diseases.Due to incapability in buying warm clothes, poor and most vulnerable people struggle to escape from cold bite in the winter season. Many distressed people try to fight the bone chilling cold with the heat from burning straw, leaves and old rubber tyres. Livestock in sheds are coveredwithold sacks.
The Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of Bangladesh, the political parties, Humanitarian Organizations, NGOs, social organizations Banks and well off individuals normally distribute warm clothesand blankets among poor people in different parts of the country to reduce their sufferings. Distribution of these materials could be done following a proper selection process in advance before the cold wave turns into severity.
Few useful tips to reduce health hazards: 1) Special care for aged people mainly the patients of asthma and children less than five years. New Born Baby Need special and appropriate care.(2).Gargle with hot water by adding a pinch of salt into it, it helps in curing the sore throat.(3)Keep drinking hot drinks like coffee and tea or simply luke warm water.(4)Add turmeric powder, ginger powder and a teaspoon of honey to warm milk. This not only helps in curing cough but also relieves from bodyache, cold and headache. (5)For cold, steam inhalation is the best home remedy. (6)While preparing your tea, add few tulsi leaves and crushed ginger to it along with black pepper, it is much relief for cough and cold. (7) Second handclothes should be usedafter proper launderingto avoid health hazards. 8)Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight; warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing. 9) Coverto head ears, and mouth to protect lungs. 10) Watch for signs of hypothermia; uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness and apparent exhaustion. If symptoms of hypothermia are detected, get to a warm location and remove any wet clothing. Better to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Actions for Protecting Boro crops:The following actions are suggested by relevant professionals to protect Boro seed bed from fog:1.Cover up the seed bed with polythene sheets 2.Shed the dew drops from seeds by pulling a rope.3.Pour water in the affected seed beds in the afternoon and remove the water in the next morning.4.Spray proper quantity of appropriate medicine to destroy fungus 5.Replace new plant at the place of affected plant if possible.6.Take advise from local agriculture officials.
The cold wave which has a potentiality to turn into a disaster needs to bring under a special preparedness programme of concerned authorities and organizations. Cold waves might come again and again in the coming days particularly in winter season due to the negative effect of climate change. Blanket distribution among affected people is an immediate remedy while steps for long term solution are not being observed. It is necessary for the authorities and duty bearers to undertake long term plan considering the chronic vulnerability and the sufferings of the people particularly in the most poverty stricken area of the country due to cold wave. Long term programming is needed to reduce the cold wave vulnerability of the poor through improving livelihoods, increasing income formaking better houses and buying blanket and warm clothes, providing soft loan for buying winter clothes and medicines. Inclusion of winter affected communities with proper vulnerability and capacity analysis in the development programmes of the Government and other agencies could be a durable step for improving their wintry resiliency. A comprehensive approach instead of isolated and conventional blanket centric show is very much needed for increasing the capacity of most vulnerable section of the society both in urban and rural areas.
(Farid Hasan Ahmed is Advisor, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, Embassy of Switzerland , Dhaka Bangladesh. A Fellow of EPFL, Switzerland, Views are personal, not in official capacity)
