Viet Nam: Typhoon Damrey OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0146

OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Viet Nam - Typhoon Damrey

This situation report is based on the information received from the United Nations Resident Coordinator's office in Hanoi, OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) in Bangkok and media reports.

Situation

1. On 26 September, Typhoon Damrey, the most vigorous in the last 10 years, affected all coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Quang Nam and Da Nang. By 27 September the wind speed reached 133 km/h hitting provinces from Hai Phong to Thanh. Total of 59 people have reportedly died and more than 13 people have been injured by Damrey and rains brought by the typhoon The total death toll by Damrey in the Philippines, China and Viet Nam has reached at least 90.

2. The storm surges broke several sea dykes in Nam Dinh and Thanh Hoa province despite great local preventative efforts. Before the dykes broke, the second evacuation of people took place, increasing the total number of evacuated people to nearly 600,000.

3. The seawater penetrated inland to 3-4 km in coastal provinces and following flash floods in the areas have destroyed at least 1,194 houses and damaged 11,576 houses. More than 130,000 ha of rice fields have been submerged, most of which was due for harvest.

4. Several villages remain inaccessible due to damaged roads and bridges, and some telephone lines are down. Together with severe damage to transport, power supply, education and health facilities, the total damage estimated is VND 83 billion (approximately USD 5.3 million).

5. Evacuated people cannot return home, as there is no water supply, electricity or food. Almost 200,000 people are facing with food shortage. In most areas, drinking water is not available, as most of the wells have been affected by salt water.

National Response

6. The Government welcomes international assistance for relief and recovery efforts.

7. The National Red Cross has provided VND 100 million and 900 boxes of household kits to Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa, Hai Phong, Ninh Binh and Thai Binh provinces.

8. Provincial and local governments have been providing relief food to people in addition to human and financial resources devoted to ensure people and dyke safety during the storm.

Needs

9. A joint assessment mission comprised of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Children's fund (UNICEF), International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), OXFAM-Great Britain and representatives from the Central Committee for Flood and Storm Control (CCFSC) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs was fielded to the three most affected provinces of Thana Hoa, Ninh Binh and Nam Dinh from 28 to 29 September. The rapid assessment focused on immediate humanitarian needs to restore livelihoods.

10. From the findings of the joint mission, the following are of high priority during this emergency phase and early recovery phase. The formal request for international support will be forthcoming:

- Food

- Drinking water

- Medicines to prevent outbreak of post-storm diseases and water purifications tablets.

- Educational materials (books, notebook etc.) and repair of classrooms/schools

- Household kits, mosquito nets, clothes.

11. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Hanoi and its ROAP in Bangkok and will revert with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

MAP: Viet Nam: Typhoon Damrey - Situation map

Tel.: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Ms. Masayo Kondo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1997
Mr. Masaaki Nakagawa, direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

Press contact:
(GVA) Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 3160
(N.Y.) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. + 1-917 367 5126