LEDC Cyclone Nargis - H

Question 1

Where was it

Answer 1

Myanmar

Question 2

When was it

Answer 2

2008

Question 3

What is Myanmar classed as

Answer 3

One of the least developed counties in the world

Question 4

Where did the storm form

Answer 4

In the Bay of Bengal

Question 5

What category of storm was it

Answer 5

4 - 215km/hr winds

Question 6

How high was the storm surge

Answer 6

5m

Question 7

Which was the worst affected area

Answer 7

The Irrawaddy Delta

Question 8

Where does the Irrawaddy delta lie

Answer 8

Just above sea levels

Question 9

How many died

Answer 9

140,000

Question 10

How many homes destroyed

Answer 10

450,000

Question 11

How many homeless

Answer 11

3.2 million

Question 12

How many schools destroyed

Answer 12

4000

Question 13

What percentage of health facilities were destroyed or damaged

Answer 13

75%

Question 14

Why did diseases spread

Answer 14

Due to contaminated water and poor sanitary conditions e.g dysentery and diarrhoea

Question 15

What did damage to agricultural land include

Answer 15

Commercial rice paddies

Question 16

What percentage of food stores was destroyed

Answer 16

40%

Question 17

How did people loose their livelihoods

Answer 17

Fishing boats destroyed

Question 18

What was the total estimated cost of damage

Answer 18

$10 billion

Question 19

What were the environmental impacts

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

What is salinisation

Answer 20

Increased salt content

Question 21

How did Myanmar utilise preparedness

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

What wasn’t there

Answer 22

Any emergency preparation plans or evacuation plans. No early warning systems

Question 23

After the cyclone, what did the government initially refuse to do

Answer 23

Accept foreign aid but a week after the cyclone they accepted help

Question 24

What did organisations such as the UNHCR send

Answer 24

Shelters, first aid kits, blankets, food and water purification kits

Question 25

What is the UNHCR

Answer 25

UN refugee agency

Question 26

At the time, what was the country ruled by

Answer 26

A military government

Question 27

What were the effects of Myanmar being ruled by a military country

Answer 27

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