India must set a precedent for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Region
According to the UNOCHA, more than 30 million people have been affected in India by unprecedented floods, 8 million in Bangladesh, and 1.7 million in Nepal, bringing the total to around 40 million people (South Asia: Flooding—Humanitarian Snapshot, as of 01 September 2017). Floods have wreaked havoc in the states of Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal this year, with high casualties. 514 deaths were recorded in Bihar, followed by 254 in West Bengal, 101 in Uttar Pradesh, and 74 in Assam (ibid). The death toll and disaster-related news itself continue to receive less media attention. Government and aid agencies swung into action to respond with critical lifesaving assistance to those sheltered by the Government relief camps. This is how humanitarian response or disaster response typically works globally. Floods, for instance, are annual occurrences in states like Assam and Bihar. India has spatial data for hazard assessment through remote sensing and GIS mapping. The ...