Natural Disaster Reduction - News & Events

UNDP and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) dispatched four trucks of relief items to snowfall-affected districts of Battagram and Shangla in NWFP. Mr. Khalid Kibriya, Secretary General, PRCS and Mr. Zephrin Diabre, UNDP Associate Administrator were present on the occasion. The consignment includes 755 packets of food items. Each packet contains 20 kg Wheat Flour, 2.5 kg Ghee, 2 kg Sugar, 2 kg Pulses, One kg Milk Powder and 200 grams Tea. The relief items would be delivered to Battagram and Shangla, which are the two most affected districts of NWFP. A total of 2,000 blankets are also being dispatched for distribution in these two districts in equal quantities. Mr. Diabre said the UN System appreciated greatly the role of PRCS in supporting the relief efforts for the affectees of the floods and snowfall. He assured the full support of the UN and UNDP for relief and rehabilitation efforts to alleviate the suffering of affectees in Balochistan and NWFP. The UN Assessment Mission for NWFP identified food and shelter as the most urgently needed items in the affected areas. The findings and recommendations of the Assessment Missions for NWFP and Balochistan were shared in the UNDMT meeting held yesterday. Donor community is coming up with pledges in support of relief efforts. DFID and CIDA made some announcements to this effect yesterday.

Full OCHA Situation Report No 5 // Sit Rep No 4 // Sit Rep No 3 // Sit Rep No 2 // Sit Rep No1 // Pakistan: Rains/Snowfall - Situation map

More information: UNDP Pakistan Country Office // DRU & Pakistan // GLIDE No. ST-2005-000018-PAK

The Geophysics Institute of the University of Tehran has recorded 10 aftershocks, ranging from 3.7 to 4.8 on the Richter scale, since Tuesday’s earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale in Zarand, Kerman Province (750KM south-east of Tehran). The latest figures received from national authorities confirm 490 persons dead and 900 injured. Government officials in Kerman do not expect the figure to rise substantially. A total of 59 villages are affected. The severe winter weather conditions continue to cause problems for the affected population and are hampering assistance efforts. The government reports that water, electricity and telephone lines have been completely restored. The UN Disaster Management Team is sending a Field Assessment Team (FAT) to Zarand and other parts of the earthquake-affected area. Following an agreement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Central National Disaster Task Force in the Ministry of Interior, the FAT will depart for Kerman, the provincial capital on Saturday 26 February 2005 to meet local government authorities and undertake field visits. OCHA, UNFPA and WFP from Teheran will join up with other team members from UNICEF, WHO (Kerman) and UNDP (Bam) will join the team in Kerman. Prior to the assessment team return to Teheran on Monday, they will present preliminary findings to the Kerman authorities. (...)

Full OCHA Situation Report No3 // Sit Rep No2 //Sit Rep No1 // Iran: Earthquake - Situation map

More information: UNDP Iran Country Office // DRU & Iran // GLIDE No. EQ-2005-000026-IRN // UNOSAT Maps

The India Meteorological Department has reported that the Western disturbance affecting the northern parts of the country from 16 to 20 February 2005 has caused widespread snowfall of up to 2 meters in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. As per the reports received from the State Government, 230 persons were killed and more than 20 persons are missing due to snowfall and avalanches. 308 persons have been rescued so far including 40 foreigners. Anantnag and Poonch are the worst affected districts. Currently clear weather conditions have set in over Jammu and Kashmir which are likely to continue for next 48 hours. Due to accumulation of snow and the prevailing clear weather conditions, the danger of avalanches still remains. The State Government is undertaking necessary rescue and relief operations and has not requested international assistance. (...)

Full OCHA Situation Report No1 // India: Avalanches - Situation map // Government of India: Heavy snow/avalanche Sitrep 3

More information: UNDP India Country Office // DRU & India // GLIDE No. AV-2005-000028-IND

The National Civil Emergency Plan is the most important Albanian State document regarding Civil Emergencies. It is necessary to improve the civil emergency structure of Albania, clarifying the division of responsibilities, and planning the best use of limited state resources to identify gaps and avoid duplication, in accordance with the established legal base. These aims can be made into reality through the National Civil Emergency Plan. This plan offers real possibilities for more effective management of civil emergencies for both the state structures, and the Albanian population.

Full Emergency Plan - PDF Document 2.43MB - 141 pages

More information: DRU & Albania

A study released by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) today shows that some Caribbean countries are not fully utilising disaster loss reduction tools available to them. The study has made a number of recommendations which if implemented could help in reducing the loss a country suffers as a result of a disaster. Study of Hazard Maps, Vulnerability Assessments, and Digital Maps in the Caribbean: Final Report - officially released today, was commissioned by CDERA as an important first step for knowing the status of these tools and to compile a database of relevant information and materials. Vulnerability assessments and hazard mapping are, as emphasized at the just ended World Conference on Disaster Reduction in Kobe, important as the starting point of any activity for disaster loss reduction. The study, conducted in 20 English-, French-, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean states, revealed that a number of hazard maps were available across the region but few countries were maximizing the use of them. In fact, only in Martinique and Puerto Rico are the use of vulnerability assessments in the planning process legally enforced. Fourteen recommendations have been made as a result of findings of the study which if implemented would help Caribbean states to reduce the loss from future disaster events.

Study of Hazard Maps, Vulnerability Assessments, and Digital Maps in the Caribbean: Final Report

More information: Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) // DRU & CDERA // DRU & the Caribbean

The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Caracas reports that the torrential rains for more than three days have had a serious impact on the population of Venezuela. According to the Ministry of Interior and Justice, some 25,000 people have been affected, 33 people lost their lives and 43 are still missing. The Government has declared a state of emergency in nine states: Aragua, Carabobo, Capital District, Falcon, Miranda, Tachira, Vargas, Yaracuy and Zulia. The United Nations Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) met on 11 February, convened by the UN Resident Coordinator, to exchange information and analyse the situation. The Team is in constant contact with the national authorities, the Mayor’s office in Caracas and the Venezuelan Red Cross Society, expressing the UN Country Team’s readiness to support the coordination effort in this emergency situation. (...)

Full OCHA Situation Report No2 // Sit Rep No1 // Venezuela: Floods - Situation map

More information: UNDP Venezuela Country Office // DRU & Venezuela // GLIDE No. FL-2005-000017-VEN

According to the Dirección General para la Prevención y Atención de Desastres (National Disaster Prevention and Response Office) of Colombia and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Bogotá, heavy rains have, in the course of last week, caused flooding and landslides in the northeastern Departments of Santander and Norte de Santander. Also affected, though to a minor extent, is the Department of Tolima. Local and Regional Emergency Committees have been activated and are providing relief assistance to the affected population. A state of emergency has been declared for the city of Bucaramanga in order to facilitate access to emergency funds from the national level. On 12 February, the Government airlifted humanitarian assistance consisting of food rations, water, mattresses and blankets to the affected area. Staff from the National Disaster Prevention and Response Office and from the Ministries of Social Protection and Communications have been deployed to the affected area in order to conduct damage and needs assessment. (...)

Full OCHA Situation Report No1 // Colombia: Floods - Situation map

More information: UNDP Colombia Country Office // DRU & Colombia // GLIDE No. FL-2005-000020-COL

Severe winter weather has affected much of the country during the past one month. There have been at least 100 deaths reported so far due to extreme cold temperature and cold related illness. However the death toll is expected to rise as more information becomes available. Heavy snow has blocked district roads and prevented the movement of food provoking shortages and steep price rises. Outbreaks of diseases have also occurred in cut-off districts. Blockages of roads by snow, and remoteness of districts, have made it more difficult for outbreaks to be reported and responded to promptly by medical teams. Provinces of most concern are Badakhshan, Daikundi, Ghazni, Paktika, Ghor, Zabul, Uruzgan and Wardak. (...)

Full OCHA Situation Report No1 // Afghanistan: Severe winter conditions - Situation map

More information: UNDP Afghanistan Country Office // DRU & Afghanistan // GLIDE No. CW-2005-000019-AFG

Hazard winter conditions have continued in eastern and southern Tajikistan, with more than 2 metres of snowfall reported. Warmer temperatures this week have increased the risk of further avalanches in the mountainous regions, while more snow is expected throughout the weekend. Majority of the roads are still closed and communication systems are down, leaving a number of villages isolated. To date, at least 16 people have been killed. In Nurobod District, fearing additional avalanches, 2800 persons were evacuated to safe areas. In Tavildara District, 39 houses, 70 storage facilities and 20 schools have all collapsed. Almost all the roads in Tavildara village are closed, cutting off villages from the District Centre. In Rogun District, 8 houses and 1 school collapsed after more than 2.5 metres of snowfall. In Kandak village, the height of the avalanche is measured at 10 metres. Faizobod District reports 31 houses completely destroyed and 312 partially destroyed. Khatlon District has also suffered substantial damage.

Full OCHA Situation Report No2 // Sit Rep No1 // Tajikistan: Snow Avalanches- Situation map

More information: UNDP Tajikistan Country Office // DRU & Tajikistan // GLIDE No: AV-2005-000014-TJK

The United Nations today launched a $3 million flash appeal to meet the immediate needs of over 300,000 Guyanese – nearly half the South American country’s total population – affected by recent floods, including provision of safe water, adequate sanitation and healthy food and re-establishing health services and education. Drainage of the floodwaters has been extremely slow and even now, between 80,000 and 90,000 people still have water in and around their homes three weeks after the disaster struck. Many areas remain accessible only by boat and the water level is reportedly still as high as 1.2 to 1.5 metres in some villages, while rivers have swollen alarmingly. The risk of disease remains a major threat and poor sanitation, waste management and insect proliferation have rendered the waters highly infectious. “Since the onset of the emergency, UN agencies on the ground have been working closely with the Government and other partners to provide emergency relief,” UN Resident Coordinator in Guyana Youssef Mahmoud said. “We need to keep supporting the affected population so they can get back on their feet, and actively participate in rebuilding their livelihoods as soon as possible.”

Full Flash Appeal // GLIDE No. FL-2005-000002-GUY

More information: Full OCHA Situation Report No8 (09.02.2005) // Sit Rep No 7 // Sit Rep No 6 // Sit Rep No 5 // Sit Rep No 4 // Sit rep No 3 // SitRep No 2 // Sit Rep No 1 // Guyana: Floods - Situation map #2 // Situation Map #1 // UNDP Guyana Country Office // DRU & Guyana // UNOSAT Maps