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Natural Disasters Highlights

Natural Disasters Highlights
November/December 1997

Disaster Response

Africa

Somalia floods: One million people affected
The flood emergency throughout Somalia (along the Shebelle and Juba Rivers) has dramatically affected the lives of up to one million people since early November. According to the latest figures 1,542 people have died, a number of them from malaria, diarrhoea, and other water borne diseases. Preliminary estimates indicate that at least 230,000 are displaced persons. In many villages, the fate of inhabitants was still unknown as communications were cut off and some areas were inaccessible. Food reserves, crops, and livestock have been destroyed in huge quantities. The UN agencies and NG0s have set up the "Somalia Inter-Agency Coordinated Flood Response Team". UNICEF has been designated as responsible for the overall coordination of the response, and WFP for logistics. The Somalia Inter-Agency Flood Response Operation Centre is located at the UNICEF Somalia Support Centre offices in Nairobi.

UN Appeals for US$ 13 million
The Somalia Inter-Agency Flood Emergency Team has so far appealed for a total of US$ 13 million. This includes US$ 9.6 million through the Inter-Agency Flash Appeal of 12 November, against which US$ 8.5 million reportedly have been pledged as of 24 November. An additional flash appeal was issued on 19 November, requesting US$ 3.4 million for the urgently needed helicopter operation, towards which total pledges of US$ 1.3 million have so far been indicated. Since the beginning of the relief operation, assistance has been provided to approximately 160 thousand people in the flooded areas of the Juba Valley, the Shebelle Valley, the Sorghum Belt, and the Gedo Region. As of 28 November, seven situation reports have been issued and a DHA emergency grant of US$ 50,000 has been released. DHA is also channelling a Norwegian grant of US$ 150,000, the OPEC Fund's contribution of US$ 150,000, and the Japanese Government's contribution of US$ 400,000.

Ethiopia floods
Exceptionally heavy rains in the highlands of Ethiopia caused widespread flooding in the lower reaches of Shebelle, Ganale (Juba in Somalia), and Dawa rivers. Close to 300 persons have died, some 30,000 ha of cropland have been flooded, and 4,252 homes destroyed. Some 65,000 people are reported to be in need of urgent assistance. The Ethiopian Government issued an appeal for international assistance on 21 November, to meet the immediate relief needs (shelter materials, medical supplies, supplementary food, and helicopters). DHA has issued two situation reports so far, and organized an airlift of non-food relief items and WHO health kits (donated by the Italian Government) from DHA's Pisa Warehouse.

Kenya also braces against floods
The current short rain season in Kenya has also been marked by exceptionally heavy rainfall, the most intense in 40 years in many areas. 295,700 people are estimated to be in serious need of assistance, in coastal (Kwale, Kilifi, Mombasa, Malindi, Tana River), north eastern (Garissa, Mandera, Wajir) and eastern provinces (Moyale, Marsabit). The Government of Kenya issued an appeal for assistance on 26 November, including food, seeds, medicines, fuel, shelter material and logistics. The UN Disaster Management Team, chaired by the Resident Coordinator, is working in close contact with the Office of the President and Kenya's National Disaster Committee. WFP is responsible for logistics'coordination, in close cooperation with the IFRC/Kenyan Red Cross.

Uganda: landslides
Heavy rains have now spread to eastern and western Uganda, affecting up to 50,000 people. In the eastern region of Mbale, landslides have killed approximately 30 people. Floods were also reported in the eastern districts of Tororo, Bugiri, and Pallisa, as well as in the western districts of Bundibuyo and Kabarole. A UN/Government/NGO assessment mission was dispatched to the affected areas. No official request for international assistance has been made. DHA issued two situation reports.

The Americas and the Caribbean

EL Niņo Strikes

Drought in southern Honduras
Reportedly due to the "El Niņo" phenomenon, a drought emergency has affected the southern region of Honduras, in particular the Departments of Choluteca, Valle, Francisco Morazhn, El Paraiso and Comayagua. Agriculture is the most seriously affected sector: Five to ten per cent of the overall national production for the early harvest, and almost completely in the Southern region. A decline in the production of prawns and sugar cane was also registered, causing a reduction in labour, family incomes and exports. The Government has not requested international assistance. DHA has issued one situation report.

Floods in Ecuador
Heavy rains since the end of October, associated with the "El Niņo" phenomenon, have caused extensive floods in vast coastal areas, in particular in the provinces of Bolivar, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Rios and Manabi. Approximately 35,000 people have been affected, of whom approximately 6,000 have been made either homeless or in need of government assistance. Close to 5,500 persons have been evacuated to temporary shelters in Guayas, El Oro and Esmeraldas. Twenty-three persons have been reported dead and three missing during October. About six million people -50 per cent of the country's total population - live in these provinces. Upon request from the Government and the UNDP Office in Ecuador, DHA has dispatched a regional UNDAC team, composed of Latin American members, to support the ongoing relief operations and assist in the coordination of national/international assistance. DHA has released an emergency cash grant of US$ 20,000 and issued one situation report.

Emergency preparedness in Bolivia
Following a request from the Government and the UNDP Office in Bolivia, DHA's Regional Technical Adviser for Latin America (based in Quito, Ecuador) carried out a mission to La Paz from 4 to 14 November. The DHA Regional Adviser has helped prepare a National Emergency plan to cope with the negative effects of the "El Niņo" phenomenon, which was presented at a donor meeting.

Asia and the Pacific

Indonesia: drought and frost
Vast areas of Central Irian Jaya continue to be severely affected by a drought causing major food shortages. This year, the annual dry season that usually spans the months of June and July started in May and has continued almost uninterrupted to date. As a result of the severe drought and crops destroyed by frost in villages above 6,000 feet, some 90,000 people in Jayawijaya district alone are threatened by famine. Alternative sources of food from the forest have largely been destroyed by the fires. More than 400 people have died from starvation or related illnesses. The Government has provided rice as well as fuel for transport and has mobilized the army to transport relief goods. The Ministry of Social Affairs is the lead ministry in providing disaster response. With the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team, DHA has undertaken two field missions to Irian Jaya to assess the situation and assist the UN Resident Coordinator in mobilizing resources and coordinating international relief efforts. A plan for short, mid, and long term activities to alleviate the impact of the famine and to break the cycle of vulnerability has been drawn up. DHA has issued three situation reports, and appealed to the international community for emergency relief assistance. So far, funds from Norway (US$ 170,000) and Australia (US$ 352,000) have been channelled through DHA for immediate relief assistance.

Typhoon Linda ravages Vietnam
From 1 to 3 November, Linda swept through southern Vietnam causing widespread damage and destruction. According to official reports, as of 25 November, 503 people have been killed, 910 injured and 3,381 gone missing. 210,000 houses and 6,600 schools have been destroyed or damaged, over 3,500 boats destroyed and 980 damaged, and 357,000 ha of rice paddies inundated. On 8 November, the Government of Vietnam appealed, through DHA, for international assistance. Immediate emergency relief needs have been estimated at over US$ 12 million. In response to the appeal, US$ 4.6 million cash and in-kind contributions have been reported to DHA, which has provided an emergency cash grant of US$ 50,000. Luxembourg, New Zealand and Norway have channelled through DHA cash contributions reaching US$ 224,000. Total economic losses caused by Linda are estimated at over US$ 570 million. International assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities is badly needed.

Papua New Guinea: drought
Papua New Guinea continues to be affected by severe drought. The situation has worsened: more than 500,000 people are in a critical situation, according to a report prepared by a joint Government/AusAID assessment team in October. Following the Government's appeal for international assistance, DHA fielded on 22 November a three-member UNDAC Team to determine the needs for international assistance, with the Government, UN Resident Coordinator, UN-DMT and WFP. Australia has provided operational and logistics support as well as technical assistance. DHA has provided an emergency grant of US$ 30,000, UNFPA a contribution of US$ 300,000 for health and water-related needs. Australia contributed more than US$ 8 million, Japan US$ 500,000, New Zealand US$ 272,000, Norway US$ 30,000, the United Kingdom US$ 250,000 and the United States US$ 25,000.

Solomon Islands: drought
The Solomon Islands have also experienced severe drought. Since June, below average rainfalls have been recorded. Besides the main provincial centres, unofficial reports have indicated that rural areas are suffering water shortage, especially in Western Choiseul, Central and Isabel provinces. Essential services in the provincial hospitals of Lata, Gizo and Taro have been closed down. Primary schools and agriculture have also been severely affected. The National Disaster Council has mobilized the Provincial Disaster Committees and has provided resources for immediate short-term measures. The Government of the Solomon Islands has not appealed for international assistance. DHA has remained in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator and DHA's South Pacific Programme Office in Suva to monitor the situation. One situation report has been issued.

Cook Islands: Cyclone Martin strikes
An UNDAC team, dispatched to the Cook Islands from 4 - 15 November in the aftermath of Cyclone Martin identified the essential requirements to achieve a transition from emergency relief to rehabilitation on the island of Manihiki. These requirements have been detailed in three situation reports and presented to the international community. DHA has provided an emergency cash grant of US$ 20,000 and channelled an emergency grant of US$ 20,000 from Norway. Other countries, including New Zealand and France, have pledged contributions.

Europe and the NIS

Italy, Turkey, Greece and Yugoslavia: earth tremors
The strong seismic activity affecting central Italy since 26 September continued in November, rendering 38,000 people homeless in the area between Florence and Rome. Strong seismic activity has also been registered in Turkey on 3 November, with a series of earthquakes, reaching up to 4.3 on the Richter Scale, in the eastern Ahlat region and the central Erzurum region. On 5, 6 and 18 November, strong tremors up to 6.6 on the Richter Scale have been registered in central-southern Greece and Crete. On 13 November, Yugoslavia was affected by a 4.5 Richter Scale earthquake, some 200 km from Belgrade.

Croatia, Portugal and Spain: storms
On 14 November, Croatia was struck by a major storm, which caused extensive floods in the Dalinatia region. Freak weather affected southern Spain and Portugal, on 6 November, killing 23 people.

Environmental Emergencies

South-East Asia

The UNDAC team, on mission to Indonesia since 27 September, completed its mission on 18 November. The mission was composed of 15 emergency management experts provided by Norway, Switzerland, Germany, United Kingdom and Sweden, as well as five DHA staff. A report has been released. Two DHA delegates are staying in Jakarta until the end of December, to provide further assistance to the UN Resident Coordinator and to the national authorities concerned. As a result of joint efforts to mobilize international assistance for Indonesia, several countries, UN agencies, international organizations, and NG0s have provided various types of contributions, both in cash and in kind.

Field Coordination Support

UNDAC teams involved in several emergencies

In November, three UNDAC teams have been dispatched to the Pacific Region and South America. A two-person mission of the South Pacific regional UNDAC Team was deployed to the Cook Islands from 4 to 15 November to assist in the international relief operations following Cyclone Martin. Another three-person UNDAC mission has also been fielded on 22 November in connection with the drought in Papua New Guinea. The team comprised one member from DHA-Geneva, from Australia and one from the South Pacific UNDAC regional team. On 28 November, an UNDAC team, was deployed to Ecuador in the aftermath of serious floods on the Pacific coast.

UNDAC on Internet

Internet home-page for the Field Coordination Support Programme (FCSU).

The FCSU developed a new web-site within DHA-Online, covering the UNDAC team, the International Search and Advisory Group (INSARAG), and the FCSU. The web-site includes information on previous and ongoing UNDAC-missions, UNDAC-members, meetings and training events related to international disaster management and links, to home-pages of related organizations.

Military and Civil Defence

Somalia flood emergency

Following the UN Appeal for the flood emergency, the Military and Civil Defence Unit (MCDU) identified and mobilized assets, in particular logistics, to support the ongoing relief operations. Several flights have been organized, including one (32 mt.) for UNICEF from The Netherlands to Kenya, with the Royal Dutch Air Force, and two others from the United States of America. Norway has financed the purchasing of boats from a Norwegian supplier and the Swedish authorities dispatched a five-member expert team with a logistics boat.

United Nations/Civil and Military Cooperation

The First United Nations/Civil and Military Cooperation in Humanitarian Emergencies (CIMIC) Training Programme-Second Level was held in Lausanne from 17 to 21 November. It was attended by 21 senior officers from 14 nations who had taken part in the UN/ CIMIC Basic Courses. The main objectives of the course were to define the involvement of the participants in emergency humanitarian actions and training programmes and future courses' curriculum.

Civil and Military Assets: Legal aspects

MCDU has started in-depth research into the status under international law of military and civil defence assets in complex emergencies. Based on the recommended standard agreements in the Oslo Guidelines and those used by DPKO, the Unit has drawn up the first draft of a model agreement to be used for Military and Civil Defence Assets (MCDA). In this context, discussions are being held with the UN Legal Office and the primary author of the Oslo standard agreements, to evaluate the circumstances under which such agreements may be applicable and adaptable, and to determine the tasking of the projected working group on MCDA. Meetings have also been set up with the ICRC international legal staff to discuss the issue. Requests have been made to UNICEF and UNHCR to provide a contact among their respective staff to participate in the projected working group.

MCDU's Advisory Panel in Rome

MCDU met with UNICEF, WFP and WHO in Rome in early November. Topics addressed were the forthcoming Standing Committee Meeting to be held in Geneva on 17 December, the presentation of MCDU's activities since July, MCDU's Training Programme, the arrival of MCDU's Legal Officer, the Unit's work with the Customs Agreement and its Workplan for the coming months. Consideration was also given to the decision to organize a High Level Seminar in Africa on the use of civil and military assets in emergencies, considering the success of the Indonesia High Level Seminar. Also addressed were the issues of E-mail communications, Contingency Planning and the opportunity of short time swaps between MCDU and the UN Agencies.

Pisa Warehouse

Relief shipment to Djibouti and Ethiopia

DHA has organized, from its Pisa Warehouse, a relief flight to Djibouti and Ethiopia, with DHA non-food relief items and WHO health kits, donated by the Italian Government. The total value of this airlift, financed by the Italian Government, amounted to US$ 260,000.

Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities

1997 Update

The DHA Central Register of Disaster Management Capacities has started collecting inputs that will be processed in the database, and reflected in the DHA Central Register Section in the DHA on-line site on INTERNET. They will also be available through the ReliefWeb site. The distribution, on diskettes, of the run-only stand alone copy of the DHA Central Register, to the registered users, is tentatively scheduled for early 1998.

Disaster Reduction

International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR)

IDNDR Regional Activities
* The Director of the IDNDR Secretariat has undertaken a visit to the Republic of Kazakhstan, as an official follow-up to USG Yasushi Akashi's mission to that country, to examine the possibilities for cooperation on issues of disaster reduction. The Government of Kazakhstan, IDNDR and UNDP will cooperate on a seismic risk reduction project which will strengthen the monitoring capacities of the Seismological Centre of Almaty and ensure regional exchange and cooperation on this issue. In 1999 the IDNDR Secretariat will co-sponsor with the Kazakh Government an International Conference on the Prevention and Mitigation of Mudflows to be held in Kazakhstan.

* Peru has officially offered to host the Tenth Session of the Scientific and Technical Committee for IDNDR expected to be held around May 1998.

* Italy has approved a project proposal by the IDNDR Secretariat aimed at improving seismic disaster prevention and management in Albania. The project, developed in collaboration with the Italian Cooperation and the IDNDR National Committee of Albania, aims at restoring the Albanian seismic surveillance system and strengthening of disaster prevention.

El Niņo - DHA Task Force established

Mitigation of the global consequences of El Niņo calls for an international approach, integrating long-term strategies, immediate operational preparedness as well as environmental and developmental considerations.

DHA has set up an internal Task Force on El Niņo with the following tasks:

The IDNDR Secretariat has actively taken part in the first Working Group Meeting for the fifth Conference on Cooperation of the central, eastern and southeastern European Countries on the Protection Against Natural and Other Disasters (Magdeburg Process) to be held in Armenia in September 1998. One of the main subjects of the Conference will be dedicated to the elaboration of a set of recommendations or guidelines for the structure and direction of disaster reduction, globally and in their region, in the 21st Century. These recommendations will be presented to the General Assembly by the IDNDR Secretariat in 1999.

RADIUS Project
The IDNDR Secretariat has pre-selected, out of 55 cities worldwide, 20 cities for the RADIUS case studies. The selection, based on objective criteria and on the information provided in the application forms, took into consideration the regional distribution. The case studies are expected to start at the beginning of 1998 and last for 18 months. The IDNDR Secretariat welcomed applications for "Associate Cities" until December. The associate cities must have carried out a similar study or should be in the process of doing so. The RADIUS project aims to promote worldwide activities for reduction of earthquake disasters in urban areas, particularly in developing countries.

Task Force on El Niņo
The first meeting of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on El Niņo was convened by the IDNDR Secretariat in Geneva on 18 November. A UN press release was issued in New York and Geneva. The meeting was organized within the framework of IDNDR's Inter-Agency Steering Committee and brought together scientific and research-oriented agencies such as WMO, UNESCO, WHO and UNRISD, and operational humanitarian and development agencies such as WFP, UNICEF, and UNDP. Decisions taken include follow-up actions such as a joint platform for policy coordination, the designation of focal points for the Task Force within the agencies, an agreement on a consolidated 'Press Kit', and the consideration of a compendium of historical data. The organization of workshops at the global, regional and national levels was also discussed. In early December, the General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for an international concerted strategy to reduce the impact of the El Niņo Phenomenon, within the framework of IDNDR.

IDNDR and the General Assembly
The Director of the IDNDR Secretariat introduced two reports of the Secretary-General to the General Assembly on 3 November. The first report (A/52/560) highlighted the status of the implementation of the Decade activities and elaborated on the action plan for the period 1998-1999. The second report (A/52/56 1) focused on the improved effectiveness of early-warning systems with regard to natural and similar disasters. This report identifies established and developing capacities for early warning, and recommends increased local utilization of warnings and related aspects of disaster management in order to minimize the risks of disasters.

Promotion and Public Awareness
The IDNDR Secretariat has recently completed a detailed analysis of the conference survey for the 1996 IDNDR Internet Conference on "Solutions for Cities at Risk". The survey, sent to the 450 conference participants, provided useful feedback on issues related to Internet conferencing in the area of natural disaster reduction. The material provided expertise which was shared at a recent meeting on "Harnessing the Internet for Disasters and Epidemics" in Bogota, Colombia (18-21 November) at which the IDNDR Secretariat presented its activities and focus on the use of the Internet as a communications' instrument in natural disaster reduction. The survey analysis will also be used in the development of follow-up activities for the 1997 IDNDR Internet conference "Floods, Drought: Issues for the 21 st Century".

Public-Private Partnerships
The IDNDR Secretariat met in November with representatives of Anite Systems Inc., a British Group engaged in the organization of the 1998 World Conference on Earth Observation Data in Forecasting, Managing and Recovering from Natural and Man Made Disasters. The conference, which will take place in London from 3 to 5 June 1998 under the aegis of the IDNDR, will discuss the role of satellite techniques for disaster reduction. This activity is the result of the interest expressed by the private sector for the goals of the Decade.

Disaster Mitigation

Latin America: El Niņo

DHA's regional disaster mitigation adviser for Latin America carried out a mission to Bolivia to assist the National Government and UNDP/ La Paz in formulating the Disaster Mitigation Project for El Niņo and in preparing the relevant National Disaster Management Plan.

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's major natural hazards stem from earthquakes and debris flows. The country's risk reduction strategy, based on scientific research, combines structural measures, such as protective dams, and non-structural measures such as restricting use of highly exposed areas. This was part of the outcome of a mission to Kazakhstan from 25 to 27 November, requested by the Government, and led by the Director of the IDNDR-Secretariat. Kazakhstan plays an active regional role in the exchange of data and observations on natural hazards with China, Kyrgystan and Uzbekistan. International assistance includes, inter alia, a training programme with FEMA, participation of national experts in specialized courses in Japan, and proposals from UN agencies. The mission identified several areas for future collaboration, such as an international seminar on debris flow planned for 1999 with possible cosponsorship by IDNDR, the UNDP initiative of an earthquake preparedness pilot project for which UNDP would welcome OERC assistance in elaborating a complete project document, and interaction between Kazakhstan's earthquake mitigation efforts and the IDNDR-RADIUS project.

Cameroon

The Government of Cameroon submitted a request for technical assistance, focusing on the strengthening of national disaster management capacities, and including the organization of a national workshop. In response, DHA sent a two-member mission which drafted a project document and attended the national workshop. The project document has been submitted to UNDP which has made funds available to allow the start of the project in early 1998.

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