Bangladesh Flood Flashcards
When did the Bangladesh flood take place?
2004
What were the immediate responses?
Water purification tablets provided by health organisation
Food aid given out
People rescued by helicopter and boat
Medicine clothing and blankets distributed
What were the long term responses?
Upstream dams were built to hold back water when there is an excess
Flood embankments were build along the river
Farmers given free seed from government
Reduced deforestation in the upper course
How many people were made homeless?
23.5 million
Which diseases spread?
Bronchitis, cholera / diarrhoea
100,00 people suffered from diarrhoea in Dhaka
What were three other long term effects?
Food shortage as 2 million tonnes of rice destroyed
Farmers lost money and unable to plant next crops
Flood cost country $1 billion
How much of the land area was flooded?
60%
How many people were killed?
1040
How many homes were destroyed?
7 million
What were the other short term effects?
Shortage of drinking water and food
1/2 million cattle and poultry lost
Airport flooded as well as roads
What were the physical causes of the flood?
Heavy monsoon rains may-September
80% of Bangladesh is a floodplain and delta
Flat low lying land = easily flooded
What were the human causes of the flood?
Deforestation in Nepal and Himalayas increased surface run off and adds to deposition and flooding down stream
Urbanisation or the flood plain due to population increase
Buildings dams in India increased sediment problem in Bangladesh
