Cyclone

Nargis….
May 2, 2008
BY-
SAURABH M. KULKARNI
 Basic Scenario

• Myanmar is a semi agrarian country with more than 80%

of its population sustained on agriculture related
businesses.

• Myanmar remains a military dictatorship under communist

influence….

• It shares its international with:

India , China , Thailand , Bangladesh

• Myanmar shares a warm relationship with India.

 Introduction to Nargis

• The cyclone name "Nargis"

IPA: næɵr-ɡɵs, is an Urdu word
meaning Daffodil, which has its
roots in the Persian ‘Nargess’

• Nargis developed on April 27 in

the central area of Bay of Bengal.

• While it was located about 550 km (340 mi) east of Chennai,

India It rapidly moved due East Towards Myanmar
 Warning

•The Indian Govt. issued warnings to the Myanmar's military

junta 48 hrs before landfall of nargis

• A well-defined eye developed with a diameter of 19 km on

May 2,the JTWC estimated peak winds of 215 km/h on
landfall, making it a Category 4 storm.
 Response of the Myanmar Govt.

• The Myanmar Govt responded hypocritically, however due to

lack of infrastructure and self interests of the communist govt
,reflecting its ability to cope up with the disaster.

• Unconfirmed reports state that military assets were protected

in priority against civilian casualties.
May 2, 2008…. Cyclone Hits

• Estimated that 1.50 million people were "severely

affected“ .Estimates of the people still missing are
55,917, with 77,738 confirmed dead. Claims go as high
as 150000.

• Burma's military leaders did not count the full death toll
from Nargis, leaving the area shortly after it hit. 1 million
people may die directly or indirectly because of disaster.

• Little or no aid was provided to civilians in the areas of

Bogale, Ayeyarwady, and Yangon.
 International Press Reports….

“Angry world should condemn the way Burma's military rulers”

-U.S. President George W. Bush

“Food prices in Burma could be affected by this disaster.”

-The Daily Telegraph (UK)

“A CNN reporter covering the effects of the storm forced to

leave the country amidst of fear of being imprisoned.”
-Reuters

“Many Burmese people were displeased with the junta government,

as they had provided no appropriate warning system
for the incoming cyclone”
-NY Times
Response of Myanmar Govt

“ May 6, 2008, the Burma government

representation in New York formally
asked the United Nations for help,
but in other ways it remains resistant
to the most basic assistance.
It Refuses visas to aid workers. “
 Public Health & Related Issues.

• Need for clean water: 74% started using risky sources (ponds,
rivers, open dig wells); as ponds became salty (40%), households
using rainwater increased from 17% to 30%

• Low shelter quality: 60% of houses were severely damaged; many

have been rebuilt but in a make-shift way, with bamboo rather
than wood

• Low hygiene: Almost 70% did not have soap

• Decreased income from decline in farming, increase in casual work.

 Health Care Requirements:
Households Reporting Adequate Access

80%

60%

40%

20%

0%
Health care Food Clean water
 Myanmar finally accepts Foreign Aid

• India becomes the first country to aid Myanmar. Myanmar

Later accepts Aid for US, UN, ASEAN, IRC, UNICEF, WHO
Red Cross.

India More than 178 tones of relief materials; tents, food

supplies, medicines. A team of 50 medical
personnel set up hospitals in the Irrawaddy delta.

Bangladesh 20 tones of food, medicine

United States USD $41.170 million

Controversies Surrounding Relief Work

• Foreign Aid Sold on the Black Market….

• Human rights oversights during the disaster

• Foreign aid labels changed fraud perpetrated.

Local impacts

•Since Nargis hit right around harvest, a rice

shortage and famine could result.

•The Myanmar government estimates losses of $10

billion USD because of the cyclone.

• State television reported that 75 percent of buildings

had collapsed and 20 percent had their roofs ripped off.
One report indicated that 95 percent of buildings in the
Irrawaddy Delta area were destroyed.

• Local food prices have increased two- or threefold.

The effects would have been curbed if…….

•Warnings issued by IMD

•The Myanmar Govt responds positively ignoring its internal

conflicts.

•Effective implementation of the DMP.

•The post cyclonic information were conveyed to the

international press

•Access granted to foreign aid immediately after the

cyclone.

•Proper distribution of the relief supplies and allowed

foreign volunteers for relief operations.