Situation Report 5 BOLIVIA FLOODS 4 FEBRUARY 2008

Transcription

1 Situation Report 5 BOLIVIA FLOODS 4 FEBRUARY 2008 This situation report is based on information received from the Office of the Resident Coordinator, UN Agencies, the Bolivian Government, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in Bolivia and OCHA Regional Office in Panama. HIGHLIGHTS Floods have caused 44 deaths and affected more than 29,000 people. Six persons are missing. A CERF request has been submitted to respond to the most urgent life saving needs. SITUATION OVERVIEW 1. Since November 2007, prolonged heavy rainfalls in Bolivia have caused floods that affected several communities in the central and southern regions of the country. According to the Vice Ministry of Civil Defense, the disaster has caused 44 deaths and affected more than 29,000 people. Six persons are missing. Number of affected families by Department (as of February 1, 2008) Numbers from November 2007 through January 2008 Families affected 29,011 Damaged houses 469 Destroyed houses 108 No. of hectares affected 24,144 Deaths 44 Missing 6 2. The weather conditions in Bolivia over the last two days have improved. However, according to the National Weather Service (SENAMHI) s latest report, by 5 February, adverse weather conditions and flooding may affect the region of Beni. 3. Preliminary agricultural losses are estimated at about 24,144 hectares, mainly crops of soybean, rice, maize, sugar cane, sesame, sorghum and others. According to data from Beni s Cattle Association, about 500,000 head of cattle have been affected due to the overflow of the Ibare and Mamore River. 4. The Ministry of Health, through their Epidemiology Unit reported 147 confirmed cases of dengue (109 in Cochabamba, 10 in Pando, 20 in Santa Cruz and 8 in Beni), 2 confirmed cases of Hanta Virus and 4 confirmed cases of leptospirosis (2 in Villa Tunari and Cercado-Cochabamba, 2 in Beni- Trinidad).

2 Page 2 Epidemiological Nº Department ARI AD ARI % AD % Chuquisaca 2,900 1,726 11,0 11,3 La Paz 4,385 1,717 16,1 17,0 Cochabamba 3,069 1,789 11,2 15,3 Oruro 2, ,9 7,8 Potosí 2,415 1,160 8,9 9,6 Tarija 2,561 1,311 9,4 7,8 Santa Cruz 7,844 3,598 28,7 26,3 Beni 1, ,5 3,5 Pando ,4 1,3 Bolivia Total 27,287 13, ARI = Acute Respiratory Infection AD = Acute Diarrhea 5. On February 1 st, the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) a.i., together with the UNETE coordinator and the UNDAC Team Leader, met with the GRUS (a group including bilateral and multilateral donors in Bolivia) ( The Civil Defence and UNDAC presented an overview of the situation and the UN response. The group was also informed of the CERF submission and the Government s request to the UN for humanitarian assistance. Clarity is still needed in defining if multilateral international assistance is going to be managed through Government entities or through UNDP as was the case in Situation per Department Cochabamba 6. Heavy rains and overflowing rivers since last November have caused damages to houses and crops in several areas including Valle Alto, Valle Bajo and Chapare. 7. The Ministry of Health and Sports has deployed workers (the last week of January) to carry out fumigation and health education to prevent dengue outbreaks. 8. A WFP and Government assessment mission identified 860 newly affected families in need of food in the municipalities of Chimore and Puerto Villarroel. These families in addition to the 1,700 families that WFP is already assisting through its emergency operation. 9. The Natural Resources and Environment Directorate has been conducting field visits to the flooded areas to verify water levels. Transredes -the major oil and gas Transportation Company in Bolivia- has been taking preventive and mitigation measures by working on repairs to damaged or at risk pipes. Chuquisaca 10. The floods have destroyed large crops areas and a number of houses. The emergency is being attended by the Prefecture (Departmental authorities) and the Civil Defense. Tarija 11. Rising rivers keeps Potosi on flood alert. A yellow alert (moderate risk) remains in place for the entire Department. The bordering Argentinean province of Salta has been affected by the overflow of the Pilcomayo River leading to the evacuation of more than 13,000 persons. Some 4,000 persons remain isolated in the northeast area. La Paz 12. La Paz municipality has been affected by landslides in different areas. Most recent events were in: Kupini (4 houses destroyed and several damaged), Hampaturi (several houses and potable water systems damaged); Alpacoma (Llojeta) at the Periphery (4 houses destroyed, 6 other at risk). The La Paz River overflowing has affected rural area crops and houses located downstream; the Keca river overflowing has affected crops in the Achacachi community; The Municipality of Tipuani declared an alert in the town of Chima Jaukata due to the possibility of a landslide in Puca Hill, which in 2003 had isolated 3 communities. 13. Evaluations in different areas were done in coordination with the Civil Defense, UNETE, UNDAC, and other organizations. The Red Cross conducted a damage assessment in the Rio Abajo area. The Civil Defense and World Vision provided

3 Page 3 humanitarian aid for the families in the most affected areas. Projected Flooding in Beni Santa Cruz 14. During the past week, residents of several isolated communities were evacuated by helicopters and relocated to communities less prone to flooding. Food aid was provided in the affected regions. 15. A total of 1,148 families have been evacuated in several municipalities to camps or shelters as shown below in the map. The Civil Defense and Joint Command for Natural Disasters are coordinating humanitarian aid operations for the victims. 16. WFP is providing food to the camps and shelters in coordination with the Santa Cruz Emergency Operation Centre (COE). 17. The Bolivian Highway Administration is carrying out maintenance work for the cut-off roads sections affected by the floods. Beni 18. Some rivers are still rising, affecting the municipalities of Loreto, San Andres, San Ignacio, San Javier and Trinidad. The Ibare River already flooded the ports of Barador, Almacen and Ballivian. As of 3 February, the municipal Emergency Operation Centre (COE) reported that 9,480 families have been affected throughout 271 communities. Only in Trinidad, some 1,800 families have found refuge in 16 camps. 19. The Memore River level rose to as much as 20 centimeters more than last year, in the province of Moxos. 20. The SEDES (Departmental Health Service) called upon the Health COE (Emergency Operation Centre) to install a health situation room. The health COE is coordinating the primary health response through water tank cleaning, disinfection, the deployment of medical brigades, and health services. Pando 21. The situation has not changed in relation to the previous week - 31 families have been affected. Further rises are expected in Pando s rivers over mid- February. NATIONAL RESPONSE 22. The Government, through the Civil Defense and the Joint Command for Natural Disasters, is carrying out evacuations and humanitarian aid assistance operations (food, emergency kits and others) for the affected people in isolated communities. So far, the Civil Defense has provided assistance to some 20,000 families since November. 23. The Government allocated Bolivians 60 millions (about USD 7.8 million) to the ABC (Bolivian Road Administration) for road rehabilitation.all COEDS have activated several sectoral commissions gathering all departmental actors.the Government established a Joint Command (JC) for Natural Disasters for the response at a national level, based in Santa Cruz.

4 Flood Victim Evacuations and Camps in the most affected areas of Santa Cruz Bolivia floods Report No. 5 Page 4

5 Page 5 INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE Coordination 24. The United Nations system through the United Nations Emergency Technical Team (UNETE) has been supporting sectoral groups with coordination. These sectoral working groups are led by representatives of different ministries and UN agencies are assisting in the coordination. Coordination actions include inter-agency cooperation, overview of the presence of NGOs in departments and needs assessments. At the local level, the departmental UNETE is participating in the Departmental COE meetings. 25. The UN system has requested funds from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to address four priority sectors identified by the Government (Health, Food, Water and Sanitation and Shelter). 26. The UNDAC team is currently deployed in La Paz, Santa Cruz and Beni, with special focus on data collection and information management. 27. The European Commission is sending two water and sanitation experts and one Liaison Officer from the European Civil Defense (Monitoring Information Center). 28. WFP is coordinating with the Civil Defense and the Joint Command for Natural Disasters for delivery of food through its regular program. WFP has attended 19,000 families since last year, out of which 17,000 have been affected in the current crisis. Assessment missions have identified 10,500 new families making a total of 27,500 families with food needs. 29. WFP is working in Cochabamba, Santa Cruz, Beni and Tarija. Immediate needs include USD 5.4 million to provide food to affected families until April. A subsequent new assessment for food security needs will be done after April. Chapare. They are also providing technical assistance for the Health COE and situation rooms in Beni, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba and Tarija. Contributions 31. Attached is the latest contribution list. Partners are encouraged to provide information on their activities. Agency/Country Contribution or pledge US Dollars Italy Food and relief supplies 1,500,000 Japan Food and relief supplies 100,000 Peru Food and medicines Not available Switzerland Food and Victuals 100,000 Humanitarian Assistance, Not available USAID/OFDA Logistics USAID/OFDA Food (Santa Cruz, Trinidad) Not available Venezuela Logistics support Not available IFRC Food and victuals 105,000 Andean Corp. Framework Food, victuals and logistics 175,000 Shelters, management support Not available IOM projects Technical assistance and Not available PAHO/WHO supplies WFP Emergency projects 700,000 WFP US$4 million required to provide food for 20,000 families UNICEF Education and relief supplies Not available UNICEF Food (Santa Cruz, Trinidad) Not available Water purification tablets (3 Not available Samaritan s Purse mt) Water purification tablets, Not available Argentina sheets, tents, food Equipment, food, search & Not available Brazil rescue teams, helicopters Search & rescue equipment Not available Venezuela including helicopters Chile 1 helicopter Not available Germany Food 300,000 China Seeds and logistics 300,000 Spain Food and victuals 100,000 Spain Education and relief supplies 155,000 Sweden Education and relief supplies 350,000 Inter-American Dev. Bank Fuel and impact assessment 200,000 IFRC Food and water 110,000 OCHA Emergency supplies 40,000 USA/SouthCom Cochabamba, Santa Cruz 50,000 OFDA/USAID Affected families in Trinidad 70,000 Health, camps and affected 30,000 OFDA/USAID people Tents, food, equipment and 150,000 USA tools World Vision Food and tents 1,000,000 TOTAL 5,535,000 TO BE CONFIRMED: Canada Hygiene, health and food Not available 30. PAHO / WHO is supporting the Ministry of Health and Sports with basic emergency kits for 1,000 people for 30 days in Cochabamba and

6 Page 6 Health Comission Next Meeting: Wednesday - 16:00 in PAHO SECTORAL COMISSIONS AND MEETINGS LA PAZ Lead: William Cáceres, Ministry of Health ( ) UN Focal Point: Jorge Terán, OPS/WHO ( ) Oscar Viscarra, UNFPA ( ) Dr. Fernando Jiménez, Civil defense ( ) Dr. Flores, VIDECICODI Dr. Vidaurre, VIDECICODI Water and Sanitation Comission Next Meeting: Wednesdaty 06/02-11:00 at the Civil Defense (Calle Chico, 1030 Cristo Rey, 4 piso) Lead: Julia Collado, GREAS ( ) UN Focal Point: Susana Sandoz, UNICEF ( ) Roger Quiroga, OXFAM ( ) Dr. Henry Hernández, PAHO ( ) Alberto Chávez, CRS ( ) Food, Nutrition and Food Security Comission Next Meeting: Friday 01/02-09:00 in WFP Lead: Lic. Gualberto Claure ( ) UN Focal Point: Sergio Alves WFP ( ) PAHO UNICEF AYUDA EN ACCION Cnl. Tapia, Civil Defensel ( ) Shelter and Protection Comission Next meeting: Friday 01/02 15:00 at IOM Lead: Alex Segovia Civil Defense ( ) UN Focal Point: Walter Arce - IOM ( ) Víctor Villegas IOM ( ) Nancy Gutiérrez World Vision ( ) Sandra Arellanos UNICEF ( ) Luís Marcos - PLAN INTERNATIONAL ( ) Walter Von Boeck ADRA ( ) Marco Arce - USAID

7 Page 7 Coordinacion Comission Next Meeting: will convene Lead: Governement (pending) UN Focal Point: Rocío Chain, UNDP ( int 424) Liliana Gonzáles, UNDP ( ) Luís Gamarra, UNDP/BCPR ( ) Ministry of Planning Viceminister of Decentralization Civil Defense Mental Health Comission Next Meeting: Pending Lead: Governement UN Focal Point: PAHO UNICEF Viceminister of Decentralization Ministry of Planning Agriculture Comission Next Meeting: Pending Lead: Gobierno (pending) UN Focal Point : Gonzalo Goyzueta, FAO ( ) Juan Chávez, IICA ( ) Roger Quiroga, OXFAM ( )

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9 Page 9 For detailed information please contact: Contact Details Desk Officer (New York) Humanitarian Affairs Officer GCMS (Geneva) Ms. Heidi Kuttab Mr. Thierry Delbreuve Office Tel: Office Fax: kuttab@un.org Office Tel: delbreuve@un.org OCHA Regional Office in Panama Mr. Max Bonnel Office Tel: bonnel@un.org Press Contact: (New York) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Ms. Christina Bennett Office Tel : Office Fax: bunker@un.org Office Tel: Office Fax: bennett1@un.org (Geneva) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Office Tel Office Fax byrs@un.org