Bangladesh flooding 2004

Question 1

What are the 3 major rivers which flow through Bangladesh?

Answer 1

The Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna

Question 2

What are the physical causes of the floods? (5)

Answer 2

1. Abonormal heavy monsoon rains from May to September, the worst for 50 years
2. 20% of the country is less than 1m above sea level
3. The 3 major rivers have a huge catchment area spanning across the country
4. Rivers choked with sediment from the Himalayas
5. Most of the land is farmed with little irrigation

Question 3

What are the human causes of the floods? (4)

Answer 3

1. Rapid urbanisation and an increasing population in the capital, Dhaka
2. High population density with very little flood protection
3. Deforestation due to an increasing demand for fuel
4. Irrigation methods increasing the rate of erosion

Question 4

What are the social impacts of the floods? (3)

Answer 4

1. 36 million (25% of the population) homeless
2. 800 deaths due to a lack of clean water
3. Poor farmers and city dwellers worst affected

Question 5

What are the economic impacts of the floods? (4)

Answer 5

1. Huge damage to countries infrastructure including roads, railways and airports
2. Damage assesed to be $2.2 billion
3. Crops and livestock drowned, resulting in a loss of income for farmers
4. Damage to homes and businesses

Question 6

What are the evironmental impacts of the floods? (2)

Answer 6

1. River bank and soil erosion

2. Water contamination

Question 7

What were the short term responses? (3)

Answer 7

1. NGO’s providing large amounts of emergancy aid
2. UN’s disater management team sent in to help the victims
3. Self help scheme to help the homeless rebuild

Question 8

What were the long term responses? (2)

Answer 8

1. Early warning systems and food shelters built by communities
2. Additional financial aid was granted for 5 years for infrastructure repairs, water resource management and education