Cyclone Nargis Flashcards
What category was Nargis?
category 4
When and where did it hit?
Irrawaddy Delta in May 2008
Social Impacts
140,000 killed
Irrawaddy delta densely populated due to highly fertile soils - contained 7 million people
2.4 million affected across Ayeyanwady and Yangon regions
over 450,000 homes destroyed
outbreaks of malaria, diarrhoea and malaria due to contaminated water
around 4,000 schools destroyed
only 250 hospitals in region - many overwhelmed
Environmental Impacts
600,000 hectares of rice paddies salinified
Loss of coastal mangroves, already reduced by shrimp farming, worsened storm surge (1 hectare of forest reduces storm surge 30%?)
widespread deforestation and debris blocked river flows
pollution
destruction of biodiversity in fragile delta ecosystems
over 200,000 animals killed
water quality reduced due to siltation
Economic Impact
$10 billion in damages (50% Myanmar’s GDP)
Irrawaddy delta rice production decimated leading to widespread food shortage - accounts for 43% of agricultural production
damage to infrastructure
loss of livelihoods
reduced opportunity to rebound after event
Over 65% finishing boats destroyed
75% health infrastructure in delta destroyed
Political Impacts
Military Junta blocked international aid for over 3 weeks post disaster
refused foreign rescue teams and controlled distribution of limited aid
government censored media, preventing full awareness
exposed flaws of authoritarian gov
refused visas for international rescue workers
Short-term responses
No evacuation warning issued
people relied on temples and monasteries for aid
International NGOs prepared to help but denied entry
widespread collapse of buildings due to Myanmar being a LIC without the proper infrastructure to regulate buildings
Long-Term responses
cyclone shelters built in many delta villages which were elevated and reinforced
new early warning systems introduced, using radios and signal flags
salt tolerant crop variants such as SWARMA- 9 introduced to cope with salinified farmland
small scale mangrove restoration projects by NGOs like Mangroves for the Future
350,000 homes rebuilt
