Patterns of Flood-induced
Population Displacement
and its Management in
Southern Peninsular
Malaysia
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Introduction
•Natural and humaninduced disasters are
steadily rising across the
globe (McBean, 2012).
•In 2010 950 natural
catastrophes were
recorded, about 90% of
which are climate-related
2
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 Malaysia’s key natural disaster
affecting 22% of its population with recurring
annual damages close to $300 million
Malaysia’s 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 Malaysia’s southern state of
Johor
The 2006/2007 Johor floods came in two phases 19th December 2006, 12th January 2007 striking
the state’s 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
o Previously Johor was relatively more secured to
flood compared to other states in the Peninsular
Malaysia.
o Johor became worst hit by 2007 floods and
subsequent ones that followed in 2011 and 2012
resulting in population displacement.
o 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
o 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
o From 2006,2007,20110, 2011and 2012 flood incidents
occurred between November to January is the
periods of maximum rainfall
o 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
9
2007 Displaced Persons’ Demographics
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Johor Flood Displacement in the Context of Nansen
Principles/Initiative
o 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.
o 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 resourcesMalaysia has over the years developed a
satisfactory and coordinated flood risk management
strategies that started from structural measures, nonstructural measures and integrated flood risk
management
11
Johor Flood Displacement in the Context of Nansen
Principles/Initiative
o 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.
o 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
o 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
o 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
o The resulting situation of massive displacements
could be explained as a defining feature of the
increased human population vulnerability in the
Anthropocene era.
o Population displacements being witnessed in many
parts of the world are mainly handwork of human
impact on the fragile earth system.
o 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
o 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.
o 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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