Colombia: Galeras Volcano OCHA Situation Report No. 3

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2006/0104
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Galeras Volcano- Colombia

This situation report is based on information provided to OCHA by the office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, reports from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) as well as from the Colombian Red Cross.

Situation

1. Since 28 March 2006, the Colombian Institute of Geology and Mining (INGEOMINAS) has maintained alert level II for Galeras Volcano (likely eruption in days or weeks).

2. According to the last census conducted in 2005 by DANE (Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica), there are 7,935 people living in high-risk areas in three municipalities of the Department of Nariño: Pasto (departmental capital), La Florida and Nariño.

3. On 29 May, INGEOMINAS reported a progressive solidification of the lava dome inside the main crater of the Galeras Volcano and a continued seismic activity associated with movements of the fluid components of the volcanic system. Movements of gases inside the volcano are occasionally producing ash emissions such as the ones occurred in the Sandoná and the Consacá areas (13 km away from the main crater), on 26 May.

4. According to INGEOMINAS, the overall volume of the lava dome and the amount of magma inside the volcano are significantly larger than in the period between 1989 and 1993. It is therefore likely that an eruption would be superior to the ones recorded during the last 17 years of monitoring.

Impact / Needs

5. According to the last report of the Colombian Red Cross (CRC), in the night of 31 May, 2,587 persons were registered in six temporary shelters located in the municipality of Pasto. In the municipality of La Florida, local authorities are building 450 temporary shelters for approximately 2,000 people, with the support of IOM, WHO/PAHO and Oxfam. In the village of La Plazuela (in La Florida), 45 persons are sheltered every night and another group of 190 people have arrived in Bellavista's temporary shelter (in Nariño), on Monday, 5 June.

6. According to the Local Committee of the Sistema Nacional de Prevención y Atención de Desastres, some returns to the high-risk areas have been reported in the area of La Florida.

National response

7. According to the CRC, a total of 1,674 families have received rental subsidies from the Government for the month of June.

8. Local authorities are working to improve the quality of the temporary shelters in order to reach minimum operational standards.

9. WHO/PAHO continues working with local health personnel. An epidemiological survey is being conducted in the temporary shelters. WHO/PAHO is also updating contingency plans in the health sector.

10. IOM is implementing a project to build 450 houses in the municipality of La Florida, following the example of the WHO/PAHO "Vivienda Saludable" model.

International response

11. OCHA continues supporting the interagency group working in Pasto. OCHA is promoting an overall coordinated approach to the crisis at national level, by working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sistema Nacional de Prevencion y Atención de Desastres and the donor community.

12. On 23 May, representatives of ECHO, the CRC, the French Red Cross (FRC) and OCHA, visited the temporary shelters in La Florida, Nariño and Pasto. The objective of this assessment mission was to mobilize resources for the implementation of an evacuation plan. As a result of the mission, ECHO decided to allocate approximately Colombian Pesos 520 million, approximately USD 258,000, through DIPECHO, in support of the evacuation process and the delivery of emergency response in temporary shelters.

13. The Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECI) is exploring the possibility to support the response plan for the improvement of local capacities in Nariño.

14. On the week starting on 12 June, Oxfam GB will deliver septic water tanks, motorized water pumps and generators to improve water/sanitation conditions in La Plazuela's temporary shelter, in La Florida .

15. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Colombia and will provide further information as it becomes available.

16. This situation report, together with additional information on other ongoing emergencies is also available on 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 Officer:
Ms. Marie Spaak
E-mail: spaak@un.org
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 63

Press contact:
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs (Geneva)
Direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653

Ms. Stephanie Bunker (New York)
Direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

Mr. Brian Grogan
Direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43