The death toll was 1,050 with 1.56 million hectares of crops damaged, 900,000 homes destroyed and 300,000 tube wells damaged. The loss was estimated at around 2,000,000,000 US $ (two billion U.S. dollars, yet is more in today’s currency due to inflation). A report from the World Bank predicts a fall in Bangladesh’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth rate from 5.6% (in 1997) to just 3%. Industrial and agricultural produce for export was seriously reduced, which lowered the GNP (Gross National Product) of Bangladesh severely, decreasing the amount of money the government can spend on the development of infrastructure.
Of the crops that weren’t damaged, very few farmers were able to farm these and export them due to the fact that there has been outbreaks of diseases such as acute diarrhoea which has affected 185,000 and killed 151. Farmers who are suffering from diarrhoeal diseases (or similar) will be unable to work, thus again lowering the GNP of Bangladesh.
Transport links such as the bridge to the right were completely cut off, making rescue operations difficult and the transporting of crops and produce from the unaffected parts of the country to the affected parts was almost impossible.
The amount of aid given to Bangladesh was astounding; $14.4 million given to them for disaster management from the UNDP (United Nations Development Program), 7,700 kgs of seed (such as spinach, tomato etc.), 64,000 water containers (jugs, mugs etc.), 64,000 sarees (type of women’s clothing), over 1,235 metric tons of dal and 4,400 metric tons of rice. Distribution of food continued into early 1999. Despite this aid, Bangladesh still has a huge loss of GNP and GDP due to these floods, which means they cannot develop infrastructure such as schools to educate the children of today. This has long term affects on the countries GNP/GDP, as when the children are adults they are likely to get a low paid job because of their lack of education. The crops from the seeds that were given didn’t bear crops until January-February 1999, so continued distribution of food was important throughout early 1999.
