Flooding in Bangladesh 2004

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  • Flooding in Bangladesh 2004
    • a lot of land in Bangladesh is delta
      • largest in the world formed from silt by 3 great rivers: Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna
    • climate is one of wettest in the world
      • because of this river sediment is very fertile- good for growing crops (rice)
    • some flooding is essential to water country's crops- rice and jute
    • Physical causes
      • most of country on huge flood plain and delta of Ganges and Brahmaputra
      • rivers, lakes and swamps cover 10% of land area
      • snow melts in Himalayas in late spring and summer
      • heavy monsoon rainfall in Himalayas and northern parts of Bangladesh
      • hilly terrain in the north helped water get down quicker
    • Human causes
      • deforestation in India, Nepal and northern Bangladesh
        • reducing interception and increasing  soil erosion and surface runoff
      • building of dams in India
      • impact of global warming
      • flood defences e.g. embankments
      • a reduction of the 'deltas flood plain' due to unplanned construction of roads, bridges, homes etc
    • Impacts
      • 60% of country underwater
      • 30 million people affected
      • over 600 people died
      • 26,500 cattle killed
      • Dhaka airport closed
      • over 1 million people took refuge from the floods
      • severe shortage of drinking water
      • diseases such as bronchitis and diarrhoea spread
      • ruined crops
      • villages buried in silt
      • cost £7 billion
    • Short term solutions
      • Bangladesh government
        • distributed money and 400 tonnes of rice
        • supplies of fresh water, water purification tablets and sanitation services provided
      • Aid Agencies
        • UN launches appeal to raise $74 million
        • provided boats to rescue people
        • supplied medicines
        • supplied clean drinking water
        • medical treatment centre set up
      • Other governments
        • give aid including wheat, money, water tablets, house repair and sanitation
    • Long term solutions
      • Shelters and warning systems
        • built 500 shelters in high risk areas
        • improve flood forecasting system using satellite  and computer tech
        • prepare floor disaster management plans
      • Dams- The flood action plan (FAP)
        • builidng 7 new dams
        • water used for irrigation and generating electricity
  • a lot of land in Bangladesh is delta
    • largest in the world formed from silt by 3 great rivers: Brahmaputra, Ganges and Meghna

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