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Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan: Osh Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 3


This report is based on information provided by the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The provision of winterized tents continues to be the highest priority for the Government.

- The Government has now identified 968 displaced families (approx. 5,300 people).

- EU and UN assessment experts are on-site to assess and verify needs and analise humanitarian trends.

SITUATION

1. On January 1, 2008 three separate earthquakes, of which the largest one had a magnitude of 5.6 occurred in the South of Kyrgyzstan (40.346°N, 72.939°E), in a remote area some 30 kilometres from the city of Osh, causing damage to housing and infrastructure.

2. During the coordination meeting held on 8 January 2008, the Ministry of Emergency Situations informed that further assessments in the area found a total of 968 displaced families (approx. 5,300 people) that are in need of humanitarian assistance. They explained that assessments are still ongoing, specifically in settlements at higher altitude, which explains the revision of the figures. Further assessments will continue. Weather conditions are deteriorating, which in turn is hampering relief efforts.

3. The worst affected areas are: Kara-Suu district; Kookat district and Alai district.

4. Assessments by the Ministry of Emergency Situations confirmed the following damage as of 8 January (based on assessment of 8,561 buildings to date):

- 5,357 houses damaged (4 private houses destroyed); 990 heavily damaged; 4,363 houses and other small buildings in need of repairs.

- One health post severely damaged, one secondary schools destroyed, 7 schools are considered unsafe and 15 secondary schools, 1 primary school and 3 kindergartens require minor repair.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

Relief assistance

5. The Ministry of Emergencies has provided temporary shelter in 357 summer tents (including one with a capacity for 80 persons and 8 tents with capacity for 40 persons), but this is considered inadequate because of the harsh winter conditions. Blankets and sleeping bags, heaters, various clothing items, tea and toiletries have been delivered.

6. The National Red Crescent Society has also provided mattresses, bed linen and towels, secondhand clothes and footwear. These supplies have been distributed in the Kara-Suu district.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

Coordination

7. An assessment and coordination expert from the European Commission Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) has arrived in Bishkek on 7 January. The MIC expert is accompanied by the Regional Representative of ECHO and they are expected to depart for Osh to assess the capacity on the ground for the distribution of relief items. A debriefing of their assessment findings is scheduled for Thursday 10 January at the EU premises in Bishkek.

8. An OCHA Humanitarian Affairs Officer from the office in Almaty arrived on 8 January to lead a joint UN assessment and monitoring team to Osh set to deploy with the EU mission. The team will meet with local authorities and will decide on distribution of areas of assessment.

9. A representative of USAID plus representatives from the Aga Khan Foundation are expected to arrive in Osh from Tajikistan on 8 January to join with the other ongoing assessment teams.

10. Experts from the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) will accompany a relief flight expected to arrive in Osh on 9 January and join the team assessments on the ground.

11. The UN, through the Ministry of Emergency Situations, has distributed sleeping bags, blankets, mattresses, shoes, kitchen sets, toiletries and clothing in Karaa-Suu district (Algabas, Bekjar and Langar villages from its warehouse in Osh on 6 January.

12. Also on 6 January, 80 heaters and 10 tonnes of potatoes donated by German AgroAction were distributed and monitored by UNHCR, UNDP and German AgroAction staff on the ground.

13. The UN Resident Coordinator's Office has issued fuel coupons worth US$ 9,400 to the Ministry of Emergency Situation as part of the OCHA cash grant. They are in the process of procuring heaters with 200 out of the 420 requested heaters expected to be delivered to the Ministry of Emergency Situations on 8 January. There is a shortage of heaters in the market, but the RC's office, together with the Ministry is working on identifying alternative suppliers.

14. A UN flight with Norwegian donated relief items was scheduled to arrive in Osh on 8 January at 07.00 AM local time (01.00 UTC). Due to bad weather conditions the plane has however been diverted to Bishkek where it has waited for the Osh airport to reopen. The flight is now reported to have taken off and is expected to arrive in Osh at 19.30 PM (13.30 UTC). The flight contains 120 winterized tents that can accommodate 8 to 10 people each. The items will be distributed in Kara-Suu district (Qattaldiq & Sogot settlements, Papan & Toguzbulak village, Nariman settlement and Langar village). The UN in Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Emergency Situation signed a memorandum of understanding agreeing that the tents will be stored in the UN warehouse in Osh after the emergency for future usage.

15. The plane containing 45 winterized tents and 1,000 items of winterized clothing donated by Austria and Slovakia through the European Commission Monitoring and Information Centre (MIC) was scheduled to depart from Vienna today, 8 January. The tents and heathers will be distributed in Nookat district (Kundoi-Kozo, Zez-Tobo and Teskei-Kozoke villages). The clothes will be donated to affected population in Kokbeln, Isanova and Kenshe municipalities in Nookai district.

16. Sweden is donating 90 winterized tents and 90 kerosene heaters. Two SRSA representatives will be assisting the delivery of the assistance.

17. Bulgaria is donating 20 winterized tents and 20 heating units. Currently there is no transport available for the Bulgarian assistance. The MIC will continue to work on the transport issues with the Bulgarian authorities.

18. The Korean Embassy has donated US$ 20,000 for the purchase of relief items in-country.

19. Through Agro Action the German Embassy has donated Euro 10,000 for the purchase of emergency relief items in-country.

20. USAID has indicated that it would be able to donate blankets and mattresses if there were any further need in this area.

OUTSTANDING NEEDS

21. The provision of winterized tents continues to be the highest priority as identified by the Government. The Minister has issued an executive order on distribution, utilization and eventual recollection/return of winterized tents. As stated before there are no winterized tents available on the local market.

22. Based on the increased number of people in need of humanitarian assistance, as reported by the Ministry, the requested relief items as per 6 January 2008 are as follows:


Table 1: Relief Assistance
Requested
relief item
Requested
quantity
Distributed
and
pledged
donations
Outstanding
needs
Shelter & clothing
Winterized tents
671
275
404
Electric heaters
1000
700
300
Winter jackets*
3500
3500
Winter trousers*
3500
3500
Footwear adult*
2000
2000
Footwear children*
1500
729
771
Children winter
clothing*
1500
443
1057
Food items
Bread stuffs
22,5 tones
22,5 tones
Rice
2,25 tones
2,25 tones
Macaroni (flour
products?)
3,75
3,75 tones
Oil
3,000 liters
3,000 liters
Beef or sheep
11,250 berth
11,250 berth
Sugar
4,5 tones
4,5 tones
Tea
150 kg
100
50 kg
Building materials
Cement
500 tones
500 tones
Slate of six strips
1,500 pcs
1,500 pieces
Bricks
7,500,000
pcs
7,500,000
pieces
Glass windows
112,5
Square
meters
112,5 square
meters
Lime
50 Tones
50 tones
Paint white
10 Tones
10 tones
Wood
1,500 Cubic
meters
1,500 cubic
meters
Panelboard houses
for 5/6 person
family
500 Sets
500 sets
(Source: Ministry of Emergency Situation)



23. This situation report, together with further information on other ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Contact Details

Desk Officer (New York)

Ms. Myrtia Murgia
Direct Tel.+1 917 367 4246
E-mail: murgia@un.org

Ms. Séverine Rey
Direct Tel. + 1 917 367 5336
E-mail: rey@un.org

GCMS (Geneva)

Ms. Aoibheann O'Keeffe
Office Tel: +41 22 917 4329
E-mail: okeeffe@un.org

OCHA Office in Almaty

Ms. Gabriella Waaijman
+7 727 2528 643
+7 7777 809 071
E-mail: waaijman@un.org

Mr. Ali Buzurukov
+ 7 727 2528 643
+7 7777 809 073
E-mail: buzurukov@un.org (Russian speaking)

OCHA Regional Office in Dubai

Ms. Nadia Evans
00971 (0)4 368 1022
Email: evans2@un.org

UN Offices in Kyrgyzstan

Mr. Oscon Moldokulov
Resident Coordinator a.i:

Ms. Aynura Alymbekova
Emergencies focal point

Fax: + 996 312 611 191
Tel: + 996 312 611 224
0772-558733

Press Contact: (NY)

Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126
Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312
Email: bunker@un.org

Press Contact: (GVA)

Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Office Tel + 41 22 917 26 53
Office Fax + 41 22 917 00 20
E-mail: byrs@un.org

Disclaimer

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