LEDC Cyclone Nargis - H Flashcards
Where was it
Myanmar
When was it
2008
What is Myanmar classed as
One of the least developed counties in the world
Where did the storm form
In the Bay of Bengal
What category of storm was it
4 - 215km/hr winds
How high was the storm surge
5m
Which was the worst affected area
The Irrawaddy Delta
Where does the Irrawaddy delta lie
Just above sea levels
How many died
140,000
How many homes destroyed
450,000
How many homeless
3.2 million
How many schools destroyed
4000
What percentage of health facilities were destroyed or damaged
75%
Why did diseases spread
Due to contaminated water and poor sanitary conditions e.g dysentery and diarrhoea
What did damage to agricultural land include
Commercial rice paddies
What percentage of food stores was destroyed
40%
How did people loose their livelihoods
Fishing boats destroyed
What was the total estimated cost of damage
$10 billion
What were the environmental impacts
Mangrove forests destroyed. Mangrove forests are salt tolerant, they grow along the coastline and make an excellent natural protection from flooding. Unfortunately many mangroves have been cleared to make way for rice paddies and shrimp farms.
Flooding caused erosion and salinisation of low lying farm land.
What is salinisation
Increased salt content
How did Myanmar utilise preparedness
It doesn’t have a hurricane monitoring centre. Indian weather agencies tracked the cyclone and advised Myanmar 48 hours before the storm. This was communicated to people via TV and Radio. Despite this, the cyclone hammered the coastline and people were unaware of the storm intensity or how best to respond.
What wasn’t there
Any emergency preparation plans or evacuation plans. No early warning systems
After the cyclone, what did the government initially refuse to do
Accept foreign aid but a week after the cyclone they accepted help
What did organisations such as the UNHCR send
Shelters, first aid kits, blankets, food and water purification kits
What is the UNHCR
UN refugee agency
At the time, what was the country ruled by
A military government
What were the effects of Myanmar being ruled by a military country
Some aid was seized or turned away. Aid workers weren’t allowed in the country until 2 weeks after the event. This decision hugely affected the death toll
