ASSESSMENT OF MULTIDIMENSIONAL HOUSEHOLD URBAN FLOODING VULNERABILITY IN KP PROVINCE OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

With progressing times, frequency of occurrence, and extent of impacts of natural disasters have significantly increased. This significant augmentation in the frequency and magnitude of natural calamities is mainly attributed to the human-made changes in climate and the rapid unplanned urbanization. The effects of climate change and illplanned urbanization have been more profound in hydro-meteorological disasters especially floods. Being globally acknowledged, floods are the most known unwanted natural incidents whose frequency and intensity is by far most affected. As a consequence of rapid urbanization, urban floods are the most common phenomenon in megacities and towns all over the globe. Developing countries like Pakistan is not free from the menace of urban floods. Major urban settings are most prone to the phenomenon of flooding especially in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The province understudy is particularly more vulnerable to urban flooding owing to its topography and inadequate household structure. The vulnerability of the urban population has been drastically increased by the rapid urbanization in the already hazard-prone areas which have further exposed them to such adverse unfortunate happenings. The traditional outlook of the inhabitants, avoidance building codes measures, no regard for land use planning, and the inefficiency on part of government departments have rendered the major districts of the province (namely Peshawar, Nowshera, and D-I-Khan) at the risk of urban flooding. Therefore, this study is designed to assess the household urban flood vulnerability in the urban spaces of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Five vulnerability components i.e., social vulnerability, economic vulnerability, physical vulnerability, Institutional vulnerability, and attitudinal vulnerability has been studied in this research paper. To collect data concerning the study, face to face interview has been conducted with 333 households. For the current study, an index was used as well as subjective to quantify the defined vulnerability indicators across selected districts. Linear regression and ANOVA tests were run on the data to get the desire results. The findings of the study revealed that the study area is highly vulnerable to urban floods. The findings of the designed study will help the indigenous people, local institutes and departments to enhance their adaptive capacities in response to urban flooding.