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Colombia

Colombia: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2005/0034
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Colombia - Floods
14 February 2005

Approximately 30,000 people affected

Situation

1. 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.

Population Affected/Damage

2. According to official figures, until 13 February, 13 people have been killed and close to 30,000 have been affected. Most affected cities are Bucaramanga, (Santander), and Puerto Santander (Norte de Santander). Access to 4 municipalities of Santander has been cut-off due to landslides.

National response

3. 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.

International assistance

4. The UN Humanitarian Coordinator's office is following the situation and remains in close contact with relevant Colombian authorities.

5. The Government has not made a request for international assistance.

6. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone: +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:
Mr. Ricardo Mena, E-mail: menar@un.org
direct Tel. +41-22-917 14 55

Press contact:
(GVA): Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653
(N.Y.): Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-8921679
(N.Y.): Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43

Disclaimer

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