Cyclone Nargis, according to the Wikipedia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cyclone Nargis (JTWC designation: 01B, also known as Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Nargis) was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the deadliest natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma (also known as Myanmar). The cyclone made landfall in the country on May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 34,273 fatalities with a further 27,838 people still missing. However, Labutta Township alone was reported to have 80,000 dead and some have estimated the death toll may be well over 100,000. The official Red Cross estimate is between 68,833 and 127,990 people killed.
Nargis is the deadliest named cyclone in the North Indian Ocean Basin, as well as the second deadliest named cyclone of all time, behind Typhoon Nina. Including unnamed storms, Nargis is the 8th deadliest cyclone of all time. Nargis was the first tropical cyclone to strike the country since Cyclone Mala made landfall in 2006.
The cyclone name “Nargis” (نرگس, IPA: næɵr-ɡɵs),
is a Persian and Urdu word meaning daffodil.
The first named storm of the 2008 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, Nargis developed on April 27 in the central area of Bay of Bengal. Initially it tracked slowly northwestward and, encountering favorable conditions, it quickly strengthened. Dry air weakened the cyclone on April 29, though after beginning a steady eastward motion Nargis rapidly intensified to attain peak winds of at least 165 km/h (105 mph) on May 2; the Joint Typhoon Warning Center assessed peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph). The cyclone moved ashore in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma near peak intensity and, after passing near the major city of Yangon (Rangoon), the storm gradually weakened until dissipating near the border of Burma and Thailand.
Relief efforts were slowed for political reasons as Myanmar’s military rulers initially resisted aid. U.S. President George W. Bush said that an angry world should condemn the way Myanmar’s military rulers are handling the aftermath of a devastating cyclone. Myanmar’s ruling party finally accepted aid a few days later from the U.S after India’s request was accepted. Relief efforts were then further hampered by the 7.9 Mw magnitude Sichuan earthquake
Storm history
In the last week of April 2008, an area of deep convection and concern persisted near a low-level circulation in the Bay of Bengal about 1150 km (715 mi) east-southeast of Chennai, India. With good outflow and low wind shear, the system slowly organized as its circulation consolidated. At 0300 UTC on April 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classified the system as a depression,[12] and nine hours later the system intensified into a deep depression. At the same time, the Joint Typhoon Warning Center classified it as Tropical Cyclone 01B. With a ridge to its north, the system tracked slowly north-northwestward as banding features improved. At 0000 UTC, 5:30 AM Indian Standard Time, on April 28, the IMD upgraded the system to Cyclonic Storm Nargis while it was located about 550 km (340 mi) east of Chennai, India.
On April 28 Nargis became nearly stationary while located between ridges to its northwest and southeast. That day the JTWC upgraded the storm to cyclone status, or the equivalence of a minimal hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. Around the same time, the IMD upgraded Nargis to a severe cyclonic storm. The cyclone developed a concentric eye feature, which is an eyewall outside the inner dominant eyewall, with warm waters aiding in further intensification. Early on April 29, the JTWC estimated Nargis reached winds of 160 km/h (100 mph), and at the same time the IMD classified the system as a very severe cyclonic storm. Initially, the cyclone was forecast to strike Bangladesh or southeastern India. Subsequently, the cyclone became disorganized and weakened due to subsidence and drier air; as a result, deep convection near the center markedly decreased. At the same time, the storm began a motion to the northeast around the periphery of a ridge to its southeast.The circulation remained strong despite the diminishing convection, though satellite intensity estimates using the Dvorak technique indicated the cyclone could have weakened to tropical storm status. By late on April 29, convection had begun to rebuild,though immediate restrengthening was prevented by increased wind shear.
On May 1, after turning nearly due eastward, Cyclone Nargis began rapidly intensifying, due to greatly improved outflow in association with an approaching upper-level trough. Strengthening continued as it developed a well-defined eye with a diameter of 19 km (12 mi), and early on May 2 the JTWC estimated the cyclone reached peak winds of 215 km/h (135 mph) as it approached the coast of Burma. At the same time, the IMD assessed Nargis as attaining peak winds of 165 km/h (105 mph). Around 1200 UTC on May 2, Cyclone Nargis made landfall in the Ayeyarwady Division of Burma. The storm gradually weakened over land, with its proximity to the Andaman Sea preventing rapid weakening. Its track turned to the northeast due to the approach of a mid-latitude trough to its northwest, passing just north of Yangon with winds of 130 km/h (80 mph). Early on May 3 the IMD issued its final advisory on the storm. It quickly weakened after turning to the northeast toward the rugged terrain near the Burma-Thailand border, and after deteriorating to minimal tropical storm status, the JTWC issued its last advisory on Nargis.
Impact
The United Nations estimated in its report that 1.5 million people were “severely affected” by this cyclone. Estimates of the people still missing are 27,838, with 38,491 confirmed dead. A recent government estimate put the number of deaths at 70,000, with some non-governmental organizations estimating that the final toll will be over 100,000. Foreign aid workers concluded further, that 2 to 3 million are homeless, in the worst disaster in Burma’s history, comparable with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Andrew Kirkwood, country director of the British charity Save The Children, stated: “We’re looking at 50,000 dead and millions of homeless, I’d characterise it as unprecedented in the history of Burma and on an order of magnitude with the effect of the tsunami on individual countries. There might well be more dead than the tsunami caused in Sri Lanka.” As a result the Burmese government has declared five regions – Yangon, Ayeyarwady, Bago Divisions and Mon and Kayin States currently as disaster areas. Thousands of buildings were destroyed; in the town of Labutta, located in the Ayeyarwady Division, 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. It is believed that the cyclone is the deadliest tropical cyclone in the world since the 1991 Bangladesh cyclone, which killed over 138,000 people. At least 10,000 people have been reported to have perished in the delta town of Bogale.
A diplomat in the city of Rangoon spoke to the Reuters news agency, giving them a description of the scene. He said that the area around him looked like a ‘war zone’ as a result of the cyclone. Burst sewage mains caused the landscape to flood with waste, ruining the rice crop. An official from the United Nations also commented on the situation, at the time of the event. “It’s a bad situation. Almost all the houses are smashed. People are in a terrible situation,” he said. Another UN representative also spoke on the incident. He reported that “The Irrawaddy delta was hit extremely hard not only because of the wind and rain but because of the storm surge.” The Daily Telegraph, a UK newspaper, reported that food prices in Burma could be affected by this disaster.
Woradet Wirawekhin (th: วรเดช วีระเวคิน), Deputy Director General of Thailand’s Department of Information, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on 7 May 2008 that, in reference to a report submitted by Bansan Bunnak (th: บรรสาน บุนนาค), Thai ambassador in Yangon, the conditions in the city had degenerated and that most businesses and markets were closed. The Deputy Director General also reported that the locals also faced even more increasing adversity in basic subsistence; local food prices have already been increased two- or threefold.
On May 13, the United Nations warned that a second cyclone may be developing that could hit the Irrawaddy Delta. The disturbance is currently situated over land northwest of Yangon and is moving northwest towards the Bay of Bengal, but is being weakened by the interaction with the Arakan Yoma.
Aftermath
International relief
On 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. As of May 7, 2008, the government of Burma has not officially endorsed international assistance, but stated that they are, “willing to accept international assistance, preferably bilateral, government to government.” The biggest challenge at present is obtaining visas for entry into the country.
According to Thai Rath Newspaper of Thailand on 8 May 2008.[52] In the afternoon (Bangkok time) of 7 May 2008, the Burmese junta permitted Italian flights containing relief supplies from the United Nations, and twenty-five tonnes of consumable goods, to land in Myanmar. However, many nations and organizations hope to deliver assistance and relief to Burma without delay; most of their officials, supplies and stores are waiting in Thailand and at the Yangon airport, as the Burmese junta declines to issue visas for many of those individuals. These political tensions raise the concern that some food and medical supplies might become unusable, even before the Burmese junta officially accepts the international relief effort.
India
India, one of the few countries which maintains close relations with Myanmar, launched Operation Sahayata[ under which two Indian Navy ships and two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft supplied the first international relief material to the cyclone-hit country. The two aircraft carried 4 tonnes of relief supplies each while the Indian Navy transported more than 100 tonnes of relief material. On May 8, the IAF dispatched third air consignment carrying over 32 tonnes of relief material including tents, blankets and medicines. India plans to send more aid to Myanmar. In a separate development, Myanmar denied Indian search and rescue teams and media access to critical cyclone-hit areas. India released a statement saying it had requested Myanmar to accept international aid especially that from the United States, to which Myanmar agreed. According to various reports, Indian authorities had warned Myanmar about the danger that Cyclone Nargis posed 48 hours before it hit the country's coast.
Thailand
Thailand has sent $100,000 USD in supplies, thirty tonnes of medical supplies and twelve tonnes of food supplies from Thai Red Cross. Additionally, Chaiya Sasomsap, Minister of Public Health of Thailand, stated that the Government has already sent medical supplies valued more than one billion baht ($31.3 million) to Burma. Furthermore, the Government of Thailand dispatched, upon the permission of the Burmese junta, twenty medical teams and twenty quick communicable disease suppression units. Samak Sundaravej stated that "if Myanmar gives the green light allowing us to help, our Air Force will provide C-130 aircraft to carry our teams there. This should not be precipitately carried out, it has to have the permission of their government." On 7 May 2008, the aforementioned units, with their subordinate airplanes, were permitted to land in Yangon, carrying drinking water and construction materials.
United States
The first U.S. disaster aid flight arrived on May 12th. The U.S. embassy in Burma has released $250,000, with an additional $3 million coming from USAID bringing the total US relief to $3.25 million. The United States Navy has also stated they are prepared to move their assets when they are given the go-ahead. The United States is currently urging Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, India and China to use any influence they have with Myanmar to allow relief teams into the cyclone-stricken nation. The Myanmar government is currently blocking certain relief agencies from operating in its territory and not issuing visas quickly enough to individuals from certain aid agencies. The first U.S. relief airlift arrived in Myanmar on Monday after prolonged negotiations with the country's isolationist junta. An unarmed military C-130 cargo plane, packed with supplies, flew out of the Thai air force base of Utapao and landed in Yangon. The supplies were transferred to Myanmar army trucks.
Malaysia
Malaysia is to channel US$1 million (RM3.2 million) in financial assistance and RM500,000 in humanitarian aid to Myanmar. Humanitarian aid would be transported by Hercules C130 and would include 5,000 blankets, 30 tents and RM100,000 worth of T-shirts, batik sarong, biscuits, instant noodles and medicines. Mercy Malaysia, a volunteer relief organization in Malaysia, is sending a four-member relief team to Yangon, Myanmar to assess the situation in the wake of Cyclone Nargis. They would start looking into areas such as shelter, clean water, sanitation and emergency medical treatment.
Other relief efforts
As of May 8, 2008, the Foundation for the People of Burma has a team on the ground in Rangoon and beyond providing direct assistance to thousands of refugees. Since this organization is administered by Buddhist volunteers and already has tacit permission from the Burmese government, all donations go directly for supplies. Foundation for the People of Burma.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has pledged $189,000 for relief.[68] The Red Cross has also called for an appeal of a further $6 million. Red Cross spokesman Matt Cochrane said that cyclone survivors need everything. They need emergency shelter to keep them dry, including food supplies. He says stagnant waters are a perfect breeding ground for the malaria mosquito, so insecticide-treated nets are needed.The Red Cross suffered a setback when a boat carrying supplies sank when it hit a submerged tree. Everyone aboard survived, but most of the cargo was lost. Ten Red Cross/Red Crescent relief flights carrying medical and shelter supplies were due to land in Yangon on 12 May.
Save the Children, one of the few agencies allowed to work in Myanmar, said the toll would likely sharply grow in the next few days as help reaches isolated areas.
Doctors without Borders – MSF landed a plane full of 40 tons of relief and medical supplies in Rangoon on Monday. After clearing customs the supplies were transferred to local MSF warehouses. They have approximately 200 workers in the region, many whom have been involved in long term projects there and were already in the region.
| Country | ContributionS |
|---|---|
 Australia |
AUD $25 million (USD $23.5 million)[75] and 31 tonnes of supplies.[76] |
 Bangladesh |
20 tonnes of food, medicine |
 Belgium |
EUR 250,000 (USD $387,000) and EUR 100,000 from Flanders |
 Brunei |
Relief materials[77] |
 Cambodia |
USD $50,000[78] |
 Canada |
Up to USD $2 million in emergency relief, $500,000 of which is for the Red Cross, Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is on standby; additional aid to come[79] |
 China |
USD $5.3 million in aid and relief materials (including 3 flights using Jade Cargo each consisting of 60 tonnes of aid) |
 Czech Republic |
USD $154,000 |
 Denmark |
USD $2.1 million[80] |
 European Union |
USD $3.0 million |
 Finland |
EUR 300,000 (USD $464,000)[81] |
 France |
1,500 tons of medicine, food, and water;[70] USD $775,000 |
 Germany |
USD $3.0 million |
 Greece |
USD $200,000, medicine and humanitarian aid[82] |
 Hungary |
USD $300,000, medicine, food, humanitarian aid |
 India |
More than 140 tonnes of relief materials; tents, food supplies, medicines |
 Indonesia |
USD $1 million in cash and another aid in foods and medicines |
 Ireland |
EUR 1,000,000 (USD $1,550,000) |
 Israel |
USD $100,000, food and medical supplies by private organizations |
 Japan |
JPY 28 million in tents and generators = USD $267,000; USD $10 million through UN World Food Program & USD $570,000 pledged assistance[83] |
 Malaysia |
USD $4,100,000 |
 Macedonia |
USD $50,000[84] |
 Netherlands |
EUR 1,000,000 (USD $1,550,000) |
 New Zealand |
NZD 1.5 million (USD $1.15 million)[85] |
 Norway |
Up to USD $1.96 million[86] |
 Pakistan |
Relief materials and setting up of a mobile hospital in the affected region upon approval of Burmese government.[87] |
 Philippines |
Medical workers and $500,000 USD and relief goods in cash[88] |
 Russia |
80 tonnes of food, generators, medicine, tents and blankets[89] |
 San Marino |
EUR 30,000[90] |
 Singapore |
USD $200,000[91] |
 Spain |
USD $775,000 donation to World Food Programme |
 Sweden |
Logistical support and water cleaning systems |
 Switzerland |
USD $475,000 (initial) |
 Thailand |
USD $100,000, food and medical supplies (initial)[92] |
 Turkey |
USD $1,000,000 from Ministery of Foreign Affairs, USD $600,000 from Turkish Red Crescent[93] |
 United Kingdom |
GBP 5 million (USD $9.9 million)[94] |
 United States |
USD $16.25 million,[95] 6 C-130s, USS Essex strike group[96] |
 Vietnam |
USD $200,000 |
NARGIS
Legendary Indian actress.
Died on 3 MAY
From .comwww.davidicke
Married to Sunnil Dutt.
Sunill DUTT(ON) born
6-6 The OMEN
File date:
27 APRIL
Nargis and DUTTON both
in this movie. number 3 in the all time box office hits.
Music by
NAUSHAD
That looks a lot like NASSAU.
The guy was born on CHRISTMAS day
and died DUTCH liberation day. (5 May, 55).
So NARGIS linked to one of the biggest BOX OFFICE HITS
of all time….Promises a GREAT SPECTACLE……
Sunill DUTT and NARGIS.
Their son made his debut in this bollywood movie
Nargis
Nargis (Hindi: नर्गिस, Urdu: نرگس), June 1, 1929 – May 3, 1981, was an Indian actress best known for her role as Radha in the Oscar-nominated film Mother India. She was the wife of actor Sunil Dutt (who appeared in Mother India as her son) and her son Sanjay Dutt is currently a very successful actor in the industry.
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Nargis was born Fatima Rashid, the daughter of the Allahabad-based Muslim singer, Jaddanbai and a Hindu Mohyal father of Rawalpindi, named Uttamchand Mohanchand[1]. Nargis married the actor Sunil Dutt (himself a Mohyal from Jhelum, British India). Her brother Anwar Hussain was also an actor in the film industry. Nargis started her career in the 1930s as a child artist and progressed quickly to leading roles in several popular films in the 1940s and 1950s which remain popular today. In most of her films she appeared opposite the director and Bollywood star Raj Kapoor. She is said to have been his real-life love interest as well as his favorite heroine. The affair was doomed to remain an affair, however, as Kapoor made no move to divorce his wife.
It is a well-known story that while shooting for Mother India, Nargis was trapped amidst lit haystacks while filming a scene. As the flames got higher and higher, Sunil Dutt, who played her rebellious son Birju in the film, ran through the fire and rescued her. Later, Dutt proposed to her, and they married on March 11, 1958. The marriage produced three children: Sanjay, Namrata, and Priya. Sanjay Dutt went onto become a very successful film actor. Namrata went onto marry actor Kumar Gaurav, son of veteran actor Rajendra Kumar who had appeared alongside both Nargis and Sunil Dutt in Mother India. Priya became a politician.
Fatima was recruited to the cinema at an early age. Fatima made her first film appearance in 1935, in Talashe Haq. The six-year-old was credited as “Baby Nargis”. Nargis, her stage name, means “Narcissus”, the flower. She was always credited as Nargis in all of her films.
Nargis appeared in numerous movies after her 1935 debut; she won lasting fame for her later, adult, roles. She starred in many popular Hindi-Urdu movies of the late 1940s and 1950s such as Barsaat (1949), Andaz (1949), Awaara (1951), Deedar (1951), Shree 420 (1955), and Chori Chori (1956). In most of her films she starred alongside Raj Kapoor and Dilip Kumar.
Her most famous role came in Mehboob Khan’s Oscar-nominated rural drama Mother India in 1957. She won the Filmfare Best Actress Award for her performance. After her marriage to Sunil Dutt in 1958, Nargis gave up her film career after her last few film releases to settle down with her family. She made her last film appearance in the 1967 film Raat Aur Din for which she won a National Film Award for Best Actress, the first actress to win in this category. She also received a Filmfare Nomination as Best Actress for this film.
Nargis died of pancreatic cancer in 1981, only a few weeks before her son Sanjay Dutt’s debut film Rocky was released.
Awards and recognitions
- 1957 – Filmfare Best Actress Award, Mother India
- 1968 – National Film Award for Best Actress, Raat Aur Din
- Nargis Dutt was the recipient of the “Urvashy Award”, the highest honour that can be conferred on a movie actress in India.[2]
- She was not just the first actress to win the “Karlovy Wary Award”, but the first film personality to be conferred a Padma Shri and also a Rajya Sabha seat in Parliament.[3]
- She had been conferred with a National Award for cinematography for contribution to Indian Cinema.[4]
- On January 8, 2001, Amitabh Bachchan and Nargis Dutt were honoured with the “Best Artists of the Millennium” award by Hero Honda and file magazine “Stardust”.[5]
Filed under: Blogging, Burma, English Article, Human Rights, Myanmar, Myanmar Military, SPDC | Tagged: Burma, cyclone Nargis, Myanmar, Wikipedia
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