Abstract
Flood is a recurrent natural disaster that has caused enormous human and material damage in many places and continues to hit local committees at an alarming rate. The need to setup permanent committees to prevent and manage flood disasters by local communities is therefore indispensable. In rural areas, the creation of such a structure is always a welcome relief to flood victims but it is often marred by numerous management problems. This study aimed to analyze the community-based approach in the prevention and management of flood disasters in Babessi Subdivision (North West Cameroon), to identify the causes of flood disasters and the preventive strategies used by this local community. A total number of 300 questionnaires as well as structured interviews were used to collect data in the field and the data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics. The main results revealed that the main cause of flood disasters is heavy and consistent rainfall. Also, poor refuse disposal and drainage system management contribute to floods. The identification of areas likely to be affected by floods and preventing the riparian population from constructing houses along these areas especially beside the main rivers are the flood preventive measures adopted by the local flood management committee. The flood victims are reluctant to relocate to the settlement site earmarked by the Government, meanwhile, the local flood committee do not have the legal tools to forcefully relocate them. The population of Babessi needs to be sensitized on the impending dangers of flood hazard and be encouraged to participate in implementing the adopted strategies to prevent and manage subsequent flood disasters.
Highlights
Africa is a continent affected by a wide range of natural and human-induced hazards and disasters [1] [2] [3]
The flood victims are reluctant to relocate to the settlement site earmarked by the Government, the local flood committee do not have the legal tools to forcefully relocate them
The findings indicated that 46.7% of the respondents affirmed that the local committee members mismanaged and misappropriated the money meant for flood victims. 40% of the respondents agreed that the victims did not follow the implementation approach to prevent and manage flood disasters
Summary
Africa is a continent affected by a wide range of natural and human-induced hazards and disasters [1] [2] [3]. Apart from direct impacts, for instance, on agricultural production and assets, floods are known to have serious direct and indirect social, psychological and other effects on victims Such effects may be caused by the loss of human lives, the spread of faecal and vector-borne diseases, mental disorders and other forms of psychosocial traumas that often accompany floods or persist after such events occur [8] [9]. High mortality rate from floods occurs in countries with poor, sparsely populated rural areas where disaster preparedness and early warning are almost inexistent. People in these areas have fewer possibilities for evacuation from flood prone areas and are more vulnerable to flood-related diseases. The rapid increase in flood frequency has been attributed to climate change, sudden heavy downpours, uncontrolled urbanization and deforestation [1] [13] [14] [15]
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