Geography Bangladesh Flooding Case Study

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  • Created by: Liv
  • Created on: 09-04-15 15:41
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  • LEDC flooding- Bangladesh 1998
    • Physical causes of the flood
      • Most of Bangladesh is located on a flood plain, and on the delta of the Ganges river.
      • 70% of the country is less than 1 metre above sea level
      • Snow melt from the Himalayas
      • Heavy  monsoon rain- soil became saturated, surface run off.
      • Tropical storms- caused increase in river discharge and infiltration
    • Human causes of the flood
      • deforestation in the Himilayas- decreased infiltration through roots, which increased rever discharge.
      • Urbanisation on the flood plains.
      • Poor man made levees collapsed and increased river discharge.
      • Building dams in India- more sediment deposited in Bangladesh- causing river beds to rise and overflow.
    • Effects of the 1998 flood
      • Over 57% of Bangladesh's land was flooded
      • Over 1300 people killed
        • 7 million homes were destroyed.
          • 2.5 million people left homeless
      • Shortage of food and water
      • Diseases spread quickly e.g Cholera and diarrohea
    • Responses
      • Short Term
        • Boats were sent out to rescue those in danger.
        • Emergency supplies e.g water, food, tents, medicines sent from foreign aid
        • Rescuers helped to repair and rebuild houses and repaired sewage problems- which reduced the spread of disease
      • Long Term
        • Reduced deforestation in the Himalayas and Nepal.
        • Government are to build 6 large dams in Bangladesh- cost $40  million and take around 40 yrs to complete
        • 5000 food shelters to accomodate the population
        • 350km of embankment built at 7m high to reduc e flooding along powerful rievrs
        • The Flood Action Plancontains 26 action points which would provide a long term solution to the country's flooding problems.

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