The earthquake measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. A series of strong aftershocks jolted the region. The earthquake struck at 3.23 a.m. local time. Experiencing an earthquake can lead to long-lasting psychological effects. An earthquake hit L Aquila in Italy on 6 April 2009. There are concerns about the psychological effects of the earthquake on children. Italy lies on a destructive plate boundary. Dr Maurizio studied in Milan. The Eurasian and African plates are moving towards one another. Dr Maurizio is a child psychologist. Convection currents cause tectonic plates to move. Dr Maurizio usually works in hospitals with terminally ill children. Earthquakes result from a sudden release of pressure caused by plate movements. The children living in the L Aquila camps are very quiet. 300 people were killed by the earthquake in L Aquila. The Italian authorities have sent a team of clown doctors to the camp.
1,500 people were injured by the L Aquila earthquake. Dr Maurizio wears a red nose, giant shoes and colourful clothes and carries balloons. L Aquila is the capital city of Italy s Abruzzo region. The clown doctors aim to cheer up the children living in the L Aquila camps. This was Italy s deadliest earthquake since the Irpinia quake in 1980, which killed 2,500 people. The clown doctors organise games and lessons for the camp s children. More than 1,000 rescue workers searched through the rubble for survivors. Thousands of homeless people are now living in tentopoli, the city of tents. 50,000 people were left homeless after the L Aquila earthquake. The Italian government issued thousands of blue tents to house the homeless earthquake survivors. There was an urgent need for shelter as night-time temperatures in L Aquila can drop below 5 C. Around 36,000 people are now living in tents. Tens of thousands of tents, field kitchens and mobile hospital units were rushed to L Aquila. Many modern buildings collapsed during the earthquake as they did not meet the building standards. Many buildings were destroyed. After the Irpinia quake, construction codes were introduced to ensure all modern building could withstand tremors.
What actually happened in Myanmar? Problem 1: Myanmar responds slowly to cyclone Nargis General Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary General, has said he is extremely frustrated by the slow response of the Myanmar government to cyclone Nargis. Less than a third of all people at risk had received aid ten days after the cyclone struck, and the official death toll at this point stood at nearly 32,000. However, foreign aid workers fear that this could be a great underestimation. A reporter in the country stated that even though the clean-up operation was under way in major cities, the more remote areas along the coast were not receiving any aid at all. Source: BBC News (2008a) Problem 2: Myanmar finally allows aid workers access to some parts of the country After much international pressure, Myanmar finally allowed foreign aid workers some access to the area worst affected by cyclone Nargis. This permitted people with expert knowledge in disaster management to help provide aid, although many wish these experts had been allowed access much sooner. Even after they were allowed into the region, their access to all parts of it was still inconsistent. Source: BBC News (2008b) Aid workers in Myanmar after cyclone Nargis. Photo: International Federation of Red Cross. Problem 3: Isolated communities proving difficult to reach Many of the isolated communities in remote parts of the delta are proving very difficult to reach. Some communities can only be accessed via winding rivers and tributaries on a wooden boat, meaning that it can take several hours to travel just a few miles. An experienced emergency maritime co-ordinator has been flown in to help plan the aid distribution. They will work in conjunction with local aid donors. An isolated house by the river in Myanmar, prior to cylone Nargis. Photo: Paul Richardson. Source: BBC News (2008b) Problem 4: Journalists denied access to Myanmar Myanmar s military government is restricting access to foreign journalists covering cyclone Nargis. The journalists are confined to cities and are prevented from sending video reports out of the country. Even at this time of crisis, Myanmar s rulers are determined to remain isolated from the rest of the world. References BBC News (2008a) UN frustrated at Burma response. BBC News, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asiapacific/7397012.stm (accessed 24 November 2009). BBC News (2008b) New challenges for delta aid workers. BBC News, available at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/ asia-pacific/7432874.stm (accessed 24 November 2009).
Stakeholder identity Character bags The following items were placed in bags along with the matching role-play cards below: Ros Amor New home information pack Photograph of flooded home Utility bill proving address Map of flood damage Peter Hynd Beer tankard Beer mat Photograph of flooded pub Map of flood damage Sally Entwistle Train ticket Headphones Newspaper Security pass Utility bill proving address Map of flood damage Geoff Mance Suit jacket Mobile phone Role-play cards Resident Your name is Ros Amor and you live in Barmby-on-the- Marsh in North Yorkshire. In March 1999 the River Derwent burst its banks. Your home has been flooded with water up to 1.5 m deep. It was the worst flooding for 70 years. You have been forced to live in temporary accommodation. Within seven hours the water came and destroyed everything. You bought your house brand-new a year ago; you can t believe the builders were allowed to build in an area at risk of flooding. Sewage from flooded drains mixed with the flood waters to create a health hazard. You are angry with how the Environment Agency has managed flooding in your area. Director of Water Management in North Yorkshire Your name is Geoff Mance and you work for the Environment Agency as the Director of Water Management in North Yorkshire. Many of the flood defences in North Yorkshire were built 50 years ago. Flood defences are very expensive. You live on a hill to protect yourself from flooding. You issued an emergency payment of 51 million to invest in North Yorkshire s flood defences after the March 1999 floods. Your planning colleagues are under pressure from the government to build 3000 new houses in your region, so building is permitted on flood plains. Flood defences cannot prevent all flood damage. Local businessman Your name is Peter Hynd and you are the manager of the Swordsman Inn at Stamford Bridge in North Yorkshire. In March 1999 the River Derwent burst its banks. Your pub has been flooded with water up to 1.5 m deep. It was the worst flooding for 70 years. You were forced to move your valuables upstairs and live on the top floor of your pub. You were unable to open the pub for two weeks. The carpets in your pub were ruined and need to be replaced. Sewage from flooded drains mixed with the flood waters to create a health hazard. You are angry with how the Environment Agency has managed flooding in your area. Commuter Your name is Sally Entwistle and you work as an IT consultant in York. In March 1999 the River Derwent burst its banks. It was the worst flooding for 70 years. The rail link between York and Scarborough was cut off and the replacement bus couldn t get to Malton. The main A169 and A166 roads had to be closed. You commute from your home in Malton to your work in York. You take the train to work. Sewage from flooded drains mixed with the flood waters to create a health hazard. You are angry with how the Environment Agency has managed flooding in your area.
Problem Your answer Explain why What actually Explain why (a, b, c or d) happened in Myanmar? (a, b, c or d) 1. Should be sent to or areas? 2. Should accept? 3. How should you get to village communities? 4. Should you let foreign into your country?
Myanmar extra information and problem cards Extra information Problem 1 Myanmar is an LEDC. Myanmar has very little infrastructure such as roads, railways and access to the internet. Problem 2 Myanmar is a very proud country. Myanmar is not used to dealing with natural hazards. Problem 3 Local people will use small wooden boats to travel along the river. The boats travel slowly and cannot carry heavy loads. Speed boats are able to carry a lot of supplies. Problem 4 Myanmar is run by a strict military government. The media can be a valuable tool in hazard response. Problem 1 The Irrawaddy Delta has been badly affected by cyclone Nargis. Thousands of people have been left without food, water and shelter in urban and rural areas. a) send aid to rural areas, as this is where the majority of your population live? b) send aid to the cities, as this is where important industries are located and where important wealthy people live? c) wait to send out aid until you have received reports on where it is needed most? d) send aid out to a mixture of urban and rural areas despite there not being enough aid for everyone? Problem 3 There are a lot of isolated village comunities that have still not received aid days after the cyclone hit. The only way to reach these villages is by river. a) send local people to distribute aid along the river? b) allow foreign aid workers to distribute aid using powerful speed boats? c) allow foreign aid workers to join forces with locals to distribute aid? d) leave these communities without aid? There were only a few people anyway. Problem 2 A number of countries including the UK and USA have offered to provide foreign aid to help your people. a) refuse all foreign aid? You are perfectly able to handle this problem yourselves. b) accept the foreign aid but insist your government will take charge of how it is distributed? c) accept some foreign aid but restrict the movement of foreign aid workers to prevent them from seeing the poor conditions? d) accept the foreign aid and allow the foreign aid agencies to manage the distribution of aid? After all they are experts in managing natural hazards. Problem 4 Foreign journalsits have requested unrestricted access to your country to cover the cyclone story. They have said the more global coverage you get, the more foreign aid will be offered. a) allow all journalists access and co-operate fully with them? b) allow some journalists into the country but place heavy restrictions on their movement and the types of stories they publish? c) only allow journalists into major cities? They will then write stories about how well the storm is being handled here. d) refuse to let any journalists in?
Who s in the bag? 1. Who s in the bag? 2. What has happened to them? Where and when did this occur? 3. What problems has this caused them? Character What happened Problems