Abstract
In this study, the vulnerability of inhabitants to
flooding in Kaba-Kama and Basse-Layout (two sub-districts of Basse town,
The Gambia) was assessed. The analysis and assessment of the
vulnerability was based on the application of indicators. The integrated
vulnerability assessment approach which combined the socio-economic and
biophysical variables was adopted to analyse vulnerability of Basse to
flooding.
A simple random sampling technique was adopted in
administering the copies of questionnaire, from which the respondents’
household age of construction, building materials used, level of
education, ownership of radio/TV/phone, impact of floods on welfare and
residents’ past flood experience were understood. Principal component
analysis was employed to give weights to the different factors affecting
vulnerability. The Vulnerability Index was calculated as the net effect
of sensitivity and exposure on adaptive capacity following the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) definition of
vulnerability.
The vulnerability index scores of Kaba-Kama and
Basse-Layout were 0.36 and 0.70, respectively. This suggests that
Kaba-Kama faces more negative effects of flooding than Basse-Layout.
Results indicated that Kaba-Kama and Basse-Layout are vulnerable to
flooding, mainly due to physical damage on both the compounds and food
items as well as to a low collective action against the threat. Coping
measures adopted included mainly the use of sandbags, digging of
drainage channels, building of fence around the compound and filling
gaps in the streets with stones. About 74% and 64% of the respondents
respectively in Kaba-Kama and Basse-Layout indicated that coping
strategies adopted were effective on a short term but can not help
properly deal with the situation, especially on a long run.
The
study recommends a close working relationship between community members
and institutions involved in flooding management in the area. A flood
information guideline was designed to provide support for different
users, i.e., general public, decision-makers and disaster management
professionals.