Weather & Climate: Cyclone Nargis Flashcards
1
Q
Background info
A
- 27 April 2008 cyclone formed, Bay of Bengal
- 2 May 2008 landfall Irrawaddy Delta, Southern Yangon
- Padi farmers harvesting dry crop (2% of annual production in area)
- Irrawaddy 23,500 square km 7.35 million people
2
Q
Economic impacts
A
- $10 billion damage
- Flooded rice fields- lost income & harvest
- 75% buildings collapsed, on delta 95%
- 2008 and 2009 rice harvests destroyed
3
Q
Environmental impacts
A
- Farmland, livestock, fisheries destroyed
- 65% of all paddies
- 7.6 m storm surge
- Heavy rainfall
- Floodwaters 40-50km inland
4
Q
Social impacts
A
- Lack of food, water for survivors
- Orphaned children
- Disease spread
- 50,000 missing
- at least 138,000 dead
- 1 million + homeless
5
Q
Official response
A
- Junta accept aid workers 3 weeks later
- ASEAN medical teams
- World Food Programme airlifted supplies
- 2 weeks later relief for only 25% of population
6
Q
Long term/ 1 year later
A
- food aid 1 million +
- less than 10% poultry/small animals replaced
- only 4.5% of destroyed houses rebuilt
- 500,000 still in shelters
