Travail de fin d'études[BR]- Travail de recherche personnel[BR]- Travail d'expertise interdisciplinairePerception et stratégies d'adaptation de la population face aux inondations dans l'arrondissement de Douala 5eme au Cameroun

Abstract

The commune of the 5th arrondissement of Douala, one of the most vulnerable communes and regularly exposed to the risk of flooding in the Littoral Region in Cameroon, experiences major flood episodes. This causes enormous losses and increases the vulnerability of populations. A population that knows the level of danger to which it is exposed but cannot adopt adequate coping strategies. The objective of this work was to contribute to the sustainable improvement of the coping strategies of the population of the Douala 5th district facing the risks of flooding by making hypotheses that the perception of the risk of the populations facing the floods influences their decision-making in adaptation strategies and that the lack of support from state institutions in flood risk prevention and management plans increases the vulnerability of populations. To do this, we first documented the flood risks in the study area, conducted surveys, processed the information collected and performed the necessary calculations. This work was carried out in the Makèpè-Missoké and Bonamoussadi districts of the 5th arrondissement of Douala. For a period of five (5) weeks, we conducted a field survey to analyze the perception of the causes of the floods as well as the coping strategies deployed by these people. Software such as: Kobocollect, Excel and R software were used for data collection and analysis. The results of this study showed that respondents' perception of floods does not influence the choice of adaptation strategies because the figures collected to interpret the experience, the feeling of fear, the losses recorded and the strategies they adopt confirm it. Eighty-four (84) % of respondents testify that they know they live in flood-prone areas. Seventy-one (71) % of the population surveyed say they are afraid of this risk and taking into account the level of danger is important. The losses recorded are largely material losses, seventy (70) % of the population suffer material losses, eleven (11) % loss of habitat and five (5) % loss of human life. In the commune of Douala 5th, some individual and collective initiatives are undertaken by the population, but its measures are weak and yield few results. Poor governance and the weakness of public and private authorities in terms of risk management, the socio-economic conditions of the population and demographic pressure aggravate the situation and increase the level of vulnerability of the municipality to the risk of flooding.