CYCLONE NARGIS 2008 MYANMAR

Background

• landfall on may 2 2008

• Developed from a low pressure system in the Bay of Bengal

• Category 4 on the Saffir-Simpson scale with 135mph winds

• Impacted the Irrawaddy Delta most

• Country ruled by a military dictatorship and has poor infrastructure, high poverty levels, and limited warning systems

Social impacts

• 130,000 dead

• 2.4 million severely effected

• Over1 million left homeless

• Over 95% of buildings in the delta destroyed

• High cases of disease spreading

Economic impact

• $10 billion in damage

• 65% of rice paddies destroyed - majority of population work on these rice fields

• Farmland and fisheries destroyed

Environmental impact

• extensive saltwater intrusion

• Storm surges of 7.6m and heavy rainfall

• 38,000 hectares of mangrove loss

• Extensive debris pollution

Initial problems with response

• initially military government was reluctant to accept aid despite extent of damage in fear of foreign people destabilising their political oppression

• Took 6 days after the initial disaster to request help from the UN

Response

• after 3 weeks, international aid and foreign aid workers were accpeted

• Thailand sent $100,000 in supplies including medical aid and food from the Thai Red Cross

• USA donated $41 million with help form American Red Cross

• Indian Navy and Air Force sent 50 medical personnel and set up 2 mini hospitals