IRI Climate Information Digest - Impacts November 1999

HAZARDS/THREATS

• Southeast Asia: Central Vietnam  experienced heavy rains and severe flooding resulting in over 600 deaths. Economic losses were estimated near $500 M.  Torrential rains and flash floods also occurred in southern Cambodia, affecting more than 21,000 families. (IFRC/USAID)
• South Asia:  In India's state of Orissa, assessment of damages resulting from the October cyclones continues. Latest reports indicate at least a million homes have been lost, along with 300,000 cattle, and complete destruction of communications and electricity in the region. The officially reported death toll is above 9,500 and expected to rise. (IFRC)

HEALTH

• Southeast Asia: Outbreaks of dengue fever, diarrhea, flu and eye infections have been reported in the flood affected coastal provinces of Vietnam. Water borne diseases are a major concern in the flooded regions of southern Cambodia. (Reuters)
• South Asia: In the aftermath of the cyclones in India, the health situation is considered to be under control, but is being monitored constantly. Some agencies are reporting cholera cases in small numbers, particularly in Cuttack district of Orissa. (IFRC)

AGRICULTURE

• Eastern Europe and Russia:  Unseasonably cold weather and a significant snowfall caused winter wheat to begin entering dormancy as far south as the Black Sea.
• Australia:  Persistent rains  in Queensland hampered winter grain harvests and worsened prospects for high quality wheat and barley crops.
• South Africa: Warm, dry weather dominated the  corn belt, reducing moisture reserves for summer crop establishment.  Planting prospects remained poor, with some relief in the eastern corn belt near the end of the month.
• Southeast Asia: A tropical disturbance brought extensive flooding to the minor rice areas of central Vietnam. Approximately 1/5 of the regions rice crop was damaged as well as a large quantity of rice and maize in store. However, the affected areas were not in the main food/rice basket of the country, which is in the south, nor were the coffee and tea areas to the north affected.
• United States: Warm, dry weather further stressed winter wheat in the Plains and parts of the Ohio Valley. Near month's end showers provided some relief  across the east-central Plains and upper Midwest.

FISHERIES