Cyclone Nargis, Myanmar (LEDC)

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  • Created by: luke
  • Created on: 20-11-12 19:55

The cause

Cyclone Nargis was generated in the same way a typhoon or hurricane is generated, since they are all the same type of storm system. A tropical low pressure area strengthened over the warm waters of the tropical Indian Ocean and proceeded to move north and northeastward, eventually making landfall at Burma (Myanmar).

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Response

On May 5, U.S.
Chargé d'Affairesin Burma Shari Villarosade clared a disaster due to the effects of Cyclone Nargis. In response, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) deployed a Disaster(DART) and immediately provided $251,000 toUNICEF,WFP, and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) for emergency food, water and sanitation, and shelter assistance.On May 6, an additional $3 million from USAID was allocated for the provision of emergency relief assistance, including $1 million to the American and $2 million for NGO partners and on May 12, USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore announced $13 million in food aid and logistics assistance through the World Food Programme.From May 12 to 20, USAID and the U.S. Department of Defense(DOD) coordinated the delivery of nearly $1.2 million of U.S. relief commodities to Rangoon on 185 DODC-130 flights. The relief supplies would provide assistance to more than 113,000 beneficiaries. The DOD efforts were under the direction ofJoint Task Force Caring Response.As of June 26, 2008, United States assistance had totaled $41,169,769 and continued to be directed by the USAID DART stationed in Thailand. However the milatary government was not helping myanmar as they were not letting anyone through the aid there people

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Warnings

  • India says it gave Burma sufficient warning that a potentially deadly storm was headed its way across the Bay of Bengal.
  • The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is mandated by the United Nations to issue cyclone warnings to seven other countries in the region, including Burma.
  • The IMD's cyclone director, M. Mahapatra, tells VOA News regular advisories were issued to Burma from April 26, when the forming tropical depression was detected in the Bay of Bengal. He says his department followed up with subsequent bulletins as well as an e-mailed warning when it became apparent that Cyclone Nargis was going to strike Burma, also known as Myanmar.
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Effect of the cyclone

Statistics

  • 1.5 million affected
  • 125,000 dead
  • 95% buildings destroyed

Winds of 217 kph severley damaged the loacl infrastructure. The sewerage systems were overwhelmed , causing leekage which contaminated rice fields and caused disease. Electricity  lines were also destroyed, dirty water encouraged vast amounts of mosquitoes to breed 

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