Flooding in a Poor Part of the World - Bangladesh

Question 1

What is our case study for flooding in an LEDC?

Answer 1

Bangladesh

Question 2

When was the Bangladesh flood?

Answer 2

July 2004

Question 3

Name the main rivers that flow through Bangladesh

Answer 3

The Ganges and the Brahmaputra

Question 4

Name a physical cause of the Bangladesh flood

Answer 4

• Heavy monsoon rains from May to September.
• 80% of Bangladesh is a floodplain and delta.
• It is flat, low-lying and easily flooded. 75% is only 10 metres above sea level.
• Most of it is a delta built up from the silt of three rivers.
• All three rivers have their peak flow at the same time.
• Rivers are blocked or their channels are shallow because of deposited silt.

Question 5

Name a human cause of the Bangladesh flood

Answer 5

• Deforestation in Nepal and the Himalayas increases surface run off and adds to deposition and flooding downstream.
• Urbanisation of the flood plain due to population increase has increased magnitude & frequency of floods.
• The building of dams in India has increased the problem of sedimentation in Bangladesh.
• Global warming is blamed for sea level rise, increased snow melt & increased rainfall in the region.
• Poorly maintained embankments (levees) leak & collapse in times of high discharge.

Question 6

Name three effects of the Bangladesh flood

Answer 6

• Over 60% of the land area was flooded
• 40% Dhaka was under water
• 1,040 people were killed
• 7 million homes were destroyed
• 23.5 million people were made homeless
• There was a serious shortage of drinking water & dry food
• Diseases spread such as bronchitis and cholera/diarrhoea, 100,000 people in Dhaka suffered from diarrhoea.
• As the waters receded - it left fields of rotting crops, wrecked roads and bridges and destroyed villages
• 2 million tonnes of rice was destroyed
• 1/2 million cattle and poultry were lost
• Overall the floods cost the country almost $1 billion
• Airport flooded, as well as roads and rail.

Question 7

Name three response to the Bangladesh flood

Answer 7

• Water purification tablets were given out by the World Health Organisation
• Medicines, clothing and blankets were distributed
• Food aid was given
• Local people began to rebuild their homes
• Flood protection shelters were built
• Upstream dams were built to hold back the water when there is too much.
• Flood embankments were built along the river
• Deforestation was reduced in the upper course
• Farmers were given free seeds from the government