Colombia Floods December 2008 Post Intervention Report Author: Diego Hernandez DSVO WSPA Andean Region Introduction This report covers the WSPA response actions during December 2008 to carry out the feed delivery in four affected areas impacted by heavy storms in Colombia during the second rainy season in 2008. Bolívar Antioquia Caldas Risaralda/Huila/Cauca
Internal roads overflowed by the floods WSPA photo Background Colombia has been severely affected by floods and landslides caused by extreme rainfall which began in mid- September and increased in intensity over the following two weeks. According to the Colombian Institute for Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), this heavy rainy season (associated with tropical depressions crossing the country and cyclone systems which have been moving through the Caribbean over the past three months) has been one the harshest and most disastrous of recent times in Colombia, not only because of the level of precipitation but also because of the high level of damage caused in different regions of the country. Colombia is a country with one of the greatest hydrological resources, rivers, streams and water sources globally with five major watersheds. Impact According to Colombia civil defence, (SNPAD- National System of prevention and attention of Disaster) its last official report of the second wave of winter, which began on September 15th, reported: 68 dead 98 injured 18 missing 1,225,146 people affected and 247,943 affected families. Some, 2348 houses have been destroyed and 92,760 damaged. 428 municipalities that have been reported in 27 emergency departments.
Type of Emergency 551 Emergency registered so far Floods 406-73.68% Strong wind 39 7.07% Land and 104 18.86% mudslides This year Civil Defence has reported 250,000 more people affected by floods than last year. In these communities there is a high level of unattended basic needs. In particular people needed shelter, hygiene kits, cleaning materials, cooking utensils, medicines, batteries, lighters, food and tanks for water storage. The Winter Season Report of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) emphasized the serious situation. This winter wave has caused the overflow of Rivers Magdalena, Cauca, Atrato and all its tributaries, causing destruction of houses, loss of crops, animals and much of the agricultural tools. The rains fell in these river basins, intensifying the already critical humanitarian situation. These rivers rose up to six meters above its usual level in some places. According to Agriculture Ministry (ICA), the rains that hit Colombia since September have destroyed 44,510 hectares of crops and killed at least 10,000 head of cattle. The rice crops were totally destroyed WSPA photo Even though the number of animals affected is not exact, it is assessed that 16,000 have been affected. Animal welfare needs Many livestock holdings were evacuated towards higher lands, but the more affected areas had led to farm animals and pets being left behind. Many small and some large farm animals were then taken by their owners to human shelters, but they were removed by Health officials.
Some rabies preventive vaccination programs were initiated on companion animals, so that they could be relocated to other areas (enclosures, corrals) without much care or control, mixed by species and with little food availability. Species Identified Needs Areas & Amount Distributed Bovine 7000 Hay packs Antioquia Caldas 1100 packs x 2 districts Equines - 500 Mineral Salt 38 sacks delivered in Bolivar and Antioquia. Sacks balanced food Swine 3000 Poultry - 5000 Sacks of swine balanced 182 sacks x 30 & 40 kg food Dogs 4000+ Sacks of dog food 86 sacks x 20kg Animals wandering by the road without grass to eat WSPA photo Proposed Intervention In order to respond quickly and effectively, WSPA identify the priority of be covered in most affected areas and where our member societies have possibility of work. WSPA was monitoring the situation closely in coordination with Ms and veterinary faculty CES in Medellin. The provision of feed in the affected areas is practically non-existent, or has been severely affected by the emergency, so the main goal was assist the animal population with feed reinforcing their metabolic rate and to allow a better chance to face and reduce the stressful situations. Four teams were establishing for support the activities across the food delivery to animals affected in following areas:
Area Length GPS Bolívar Department 25.978 km2 8 58 46.24 N 74 27 37.06 O Antioquia Department 62.839 Km2 6º50 31.33 N 75º34 11 15 O Caldas Department 7.888 km2 5º20 00,17 N 75º19 01,29 O Risaralda/Huila/Cauca departments 3.592 Km2 2º33 25.52 N 75º40 36,60 O In every department was WSPA coordinated its member societies in the delivery of aid with support of local authorities and livestock agency. Bolivar December 18 th 21 st The department of Bolivar was the most affected by flooding, with 254,663 people affected. WSPA member society FRAD (Fundacion de Rescate para animales desamparados) started to deliver carrying a total of 2.5 tons of food which was distributed in 4 regions affected by heavy rains localized to just over 300 km away.(magangue district) Several roads were not cleared, so the use of boats was necessary to get access to places where even the local agencies of government didn t have resources. 1346 animals were given relief although the water level is not dropping as expected. According to environmental authorities two months will needed for this population recover their dry land again. WSPA coordinated, monitored and provided logistical support to ensure the delivery of food and increase the AW strategy. Antioquia December 19 th 21 st The strong rains during December that whipped the North East zone of Antioquia caused several floods that left without hundreds of animals (cattle, horses and goat mainly) without food and thousands of families were left without economic sustenance. A great wave of water overflowed from the Cauca River leaving most in the municipality of Nechí without a means of transport. Some of the aftermath of the floods were: 95% of land flood 21000 people without land communication 1500 cattle without food 700 equines without food
100 goats without food 95% people affected 270 families severely affected 10.000 tons of rice affected All these communities has at least 10 animals per family Antioquia department was lead by CES University, which will have the ERU program for 2009. A total of 1900 animals were given relief and some food for few days while the levels of water start to decrease. Caldas December 15 th 20 th Member society AMAN, who participating during the last intervention in Colombia, (First rainy season) lead this operation for 4 days. AMAN, (Amigos de los Animales y la Naturaleza) who participated during the last intervention in Colombia, lead the operation, delivering food in a 250 km area and providing veterinary care for animals affected in several towns in the area. The main areas of work were La Dorada, Puerto Salgar, and some rural areas close to Manizales. WSPA were supporting with transport, logistics and distribute of feed. 974 animals were provided with food and veterinary assistance. Risaralda Cauca Huila December 14 th 19 th Member Society APAP (Asociación Protectora de los Animales y las Plantas)had good experience disaster interventions and field work during the past years and conducted an assessmentof three departments affected by the floods. These departments despite reported livestock affected also had large numbers of companion animals in rural areas affected.
Part of their work was getting access to the area inhabited by indigenous communities where the presence of companion animals was very high. Practically all the indigenous communities affected by the emergency live in areas heavily affected. Aid Delivered Food during a week to 4766 animals distributed as follows: 1966 Cattle 960 equines 404 goats 1041 pets 68 swine 327 poultry Unloading hay of the truck WSPA photo Achievements The main achievements were: Successful assessments in four areas of the country. Coordination of four groups by the WSPA team. The effective transport and distribution of more than 20 tons of food for animals affected by flooding. Achieve approval and WSPA recognition of local authorities. Hay Transport WSPA photo
Lessons Learned Due to the cyclical events, is necessary to increase WSPA response capacity, strengthening the member societies and engage in advocacy to ensure that civil issues into local civil defence. Emergency funds contributed not only to provide food and care for animals affected by the emergency, but also indirectly supporting the psychosocial recovery of communities. Animal needs should be identified with official entities with the purpose of implementing new health campaigns. Finances WSPA requested US$20.000 to meet the immediate needs of animals. WSPA Feed Delivery Colombia 2008 Location/Department Item Cost US$ Assign spend Animal Food Transport 3100 960 5K 5K Bolívar Logistic Other 600 340 Antioquia Animal Food Transportation Logistic Other 2940 1350 980 580 5K *5.8K Animal Food Caldas Transportation Logistic Other Animal Food Risaralda/Huila/Cauca Transportation Logistic Other TOTAL 20190 Travel assessment 631 1860 740 860 400 3460 980 780 260 4K 3.9K 5K 5.0K
Delivered Actions - Details ITEM Quantity Cost/unid US$ Total Cost US$ Hay 1800 1,700 3060 Balanced Feed 278 2500 6950 Transportation (Hay-sacks 2078 1,800 3740.4 balanced mineral salt) Transport (Teams) 4 teams 629/each team 2510 x 4 persons x 4 days Lodging & food 4 teams 580 per team x 2320 4 days T-shirt 15 10 150 Photographer 3 320 960 Other 1 500 500 TOTAL U$ 20190 *Additional costs (Antioquia) were assumed by CES University. Information Sources Bolívar Edgar Lario, CREPAD Regional Coordinator Disaster prevent and attention office. Ph: (57) 311 4018587 Gloria Cardona El Universal Local Newspaper Ph: (574) 6501050 Ingrid Hernández Veterinary UDCA university. ingridhdezsoto@hotmail.com Enrique Núñez Díaz, Agriculture Secretary - agrobolivar@hotmail.com Antioquia Dr. Santiago Henao, CES s Veterinary and agriculture Faculty Dean - shenao@ces.edu.co Carolina Vásquez Toro, Administrative coordinator FEDEGAN cvasquez@fedegan.org.co Juan David Fernando Pérez Gallego, Logistic Coordinator SIMPAD juand.perez@medellin.gov.co John Freddy Rendón, DAPARD Regional Director, dapard@gobant.gov.co Camilo Zapata Wills, SIMPAD Regional Director, camilo.zapata@medellin.gov.co Juan Diego Páez Sierra, Veterinary CES University, juandiego17@hotmail.com Caldas
Juan Sebastián Gómez, Manizales President Local Council Ph: +571 6 8845527 - juan11se@hotmail.com Juan Manuel Osório, Firs aid Director. Colombian Red Cross Ph 571-8866300 socorrocaldas@cruzrojacolombiana.org Julian Andres Vasco, Government Secretary. julivasco@hotmail.com Risaralda/Huila/cauca Monica Londoño, MS APAP President, Ph: 571 3258311 - apap@telesat.com.co Manuel Antonio Macías - Agriculture Secretary secreagricultura@gobernacionhuila.gov.co Photos A selection of photos are available on request. Ends