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OCHA Situation Report No. 2 on floods in the Russian Federation

Ref: OCHA/GVA -2002/0127

OCHA Situation Report No. 2 *
Russian Federation - Floods
25 June 2002

This report summarizes information received from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Russian Federation and the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of RUSSIA).

Situation

1. As a result of the heavy rains and floods that hit nine regions within the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation over last weekend, it is reported that to date 53 people have died and some 200 people are still missing. The most severely affected areas are Stavropol Krai, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Krasnodarsky Krai, North Ossetia, and Kabardino-Balkaria. The floods are believed to have reached their highest peak, as weather forecasts are predicting that no more heavy rains will occur in the coming days.

2. In terms of the impact of the flood, EMERCOM has made available the following updated facts and figures:

195 settlements have been affected (in 49 rayons within nine republics);

44,102 houses have been flooded (including 34 administrative buildings), 3,157 houses have been completely destroyed, and 3,917 houses have been damaged;

53 people have died;

109,806 people have been affected by the floods;

69,859 people have been evacuated;

16.1 km high pressure gas pipe lines and 47 km middle and low pressure gas pipe lines have been damaged;

235 bridges have been damaged (188 motor bridges, 43 pedestrian bridges, and 4 railway bridges);

945 km of road has been damaged;

6 km of railway has been damaged;

355.9 km of electrical wiring has been damaged;

7.6 km of water pipe has been damaged; and

in 88 settlements electricity has been cut off.

National and International Response

3. Several NGOs based in Ingushetia, and providing humanitarian aid to the IDP population in both Ingushetia and Chechnya, will field rapid assessments to determine the effects of the floods on the population in Ingushetia and Chechnya. The results of the assessments are expected to be available shortly.

4. The Russian Ministry dealing with emergency situations, EMERCOM, has played a key role over the past few days in providing emergency assistance to the affected population. In contacts today between EMERCOM and the OCHA office, EMERCOM expressed its appreciation for assistance offered by OCHA and other international actors, and underlined that the present flood situation in the southern parts of the Russian Federation is under control.

5. OCHA Headquarters is in close contact with the OCHA Offices in Moscow and Nazran, and will revert with further information, as it becomes available.

6. This situation report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA 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. Dusan Zupka, direct Tel. +41-22-917 1645
Mr. Ivo Freijsen, direct Tel. + 41 22 917 1695

Press contact:
(in GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(in N.Y.) - Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32

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