A local level relationship between floods and poverty: A case in Myanmar

The frequency of floods is predicted to increase in south-east Asia, and this may exacerbate the living conditions of poor people in flood-prone areas. Though much work has been conducted on the effects of poverty, there is a pressing need for more analysis on the local effects of floods. The work that does exist usually is based on qualitative analysis. This paper investigates the relationship between floods and poverty at a household level. It is based on a questionnaire survey conducted in Bago city, Myanmar. Using multi-regression analysis and spatial analysis, we found that poor people tend to live in flood-prone areas, and that floods can cause and exacerbate poverty. Spatial distribution results show that the people who suffer most from floods are those who live in the worst conditions. We discuss the resettlement of communities as an option for countering the effects of floods and alleviating poverty.