Aftermath of the Bangladesh Floods, Jul-Sep 1998

EFFECTS OF THE FLOODS

• Deposition of silt on the land provided soil for agriculture
• Two thirds of Bangladesh was covered in water
• Dhaka was 2m underwater
• 30 million people were left homeless
• 1070 people died (some as a direct result but others due to the spread of water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera)
• 700,000 ha of crops were destroyed.  This included rice, one of Bangladesh's main exports
• Bangladeshi economy suffered - 400 clothes factories were forced to close
• Transport routes were damaged which hindered aid efforts

SHORT-TERM MEASURES

• Food aid was sent by…