Cyclone Nargis caused catastrophic damage in Burma in May 2008, killing over 146,000 people through strong winds and flooding. The Burmese government was unprepared for a storm of this severity and refused international aid for over a month, exacerbating the human impact through further deaths from starvation, disease and untreated injuries. The majority of Burmese lived in non-durable housing and the country lacked adequate emergency response systems, highlighting its vulnerability to natural disasters.

1. By: Jasmine and Michael
Adjustments and responses to
Cyclone Nargis

2. Background • May 2, 2008
• Winds of 240 kph
(150 mph)
• About 90,000
people died
• 56,000 people
missing were not
found --> 146,000
DEATHS
• 2.4 million
affected

3. Socio-economics of Burma

4. • Large youthful
population
• lower old-age
population
Population
• 73.9 people per square km

5. • GDP per capita (PPP)=
$1,393
• 26% below poverty line
• 37% unemployed
• Majority (70%) of
population works in
agriculture
Economy & Employment

6. Adjustments before the event:

7. • Unexpected
o Cyclone was a class 2 storm
o Became class 4 just as it
reached land
o No time to prepare for the
high severity
• No adequate housing or
protection in towns
• Emergency services not
prepared for the severity
Government

8. Housing & infrastructure
• 15% of houses made of
brick/concrete
• Houses not designed to
withstand heavy wind or
floods
• Infrastructure not prepared
to deal with flooding

9. Responses After the
Event

10. JUNTA
GOVERNMENT
• REFUSED TO LET AID WORKERS IN
• RESTRICTED INTERNATIONAL AID
• --> afraid of an uprising

11. • 62,000 MISSING
• Survivors: Hungry,
Thirsty AND
VULNERABLE TO
DISEASES
• --> Desperate for
dwindling supplies of
food and resources
• 1.5 homeless
people --> Still
await for FOOD,
SHELTER and
MEDICINE

12. INTERNATIONAL AID WAS ONLY
ALLOWED IN A MONTH AFTER THE
CYCLONE HIT -->

13. Government's act of DENIAL: Caused hundreds of
people to die: --> as they waited for aid that was
being generally offered.
- diseases spread, starvation, many lost in sea
Many civilians who were trapped --> left to die
as aid did not come fast enough

14. • Never provided a
warning to to the
areas that were at
danger
• Could not rescue
and save the lives
of many
• Made the
disasters worse
than Necessary

15. Sources
http://www.burma-center.org/en/burma/history/cyclone-nargis/
http://www.ifrc.org/en/news-and-media/news-stories/asia-pacific/myanmar/myanmar-cyclone-nargis-2008-facts-and-figures/
http://voices.yahoo.com/cyclone-nargis-devastating-impact-myanmar-6375652.html?cat=75
http://www.coolgeography.co.uk/A-level/AQA/Year%2013/Weather%20and%20climate/Hurricanes/Cyclone_Nargis.htm
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2008/05/16/burma1.jpg
http://asia.mcc.org/system/files/imagecache/homepage_slideshow_image/asi_myanmar.png
http://citygatefilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/080512_for_burmaex.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Burma
http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5170/5341059051_f4e8b1b9fc_z.jpg
http://cdn.c.photoshelter.com/img-get/I0000Cubzkr_tdgg/s/880/880/burma07neg006-004.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Burma
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma
http://www.cyclonextreme.com/Images/Monde2008/PhotoNargis226163main_nargis_rain_27apr4may08.jpg
http://www.globaleducation.edu.au/verve/_resources/117.3_GI_Disasters.jpg
http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/images/content/246732main_MyanmarGPW_lg.jpg
http://www.aseanpostnargiskm.org/productive-lives/shelter