OCHA Situation Report No. 1 on floods in the Russian Federation
Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2002/0125
OCHA Situation Report No. 1 *
The Russian Federation - Floods
24 June 2002
This report summarizes information received from the UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator's office 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. Heavy rains in several regions of the Russian Federation, Stavropol, Krasnodar, Karachaevo-Cherkesia, Ingushetia, Adygea, Chechenya, Kabardono-Balkaria, North Osetia-Alania and Dagestan resulted in severe floods in the last three days. At least 60,000 people have been affected, 24 persons have perished and more than 55,000 have been evacuated due to the flooding.
2. Damage to infrastructure, residences and other private property is expected to necessitate a fairly considerable reconstruction effort further down the line. In 188 populated areas, 44,793 building have been flooded, out of which 1,217 have been destroyed. Infrastructure has been considerably affected, with 180 kilometers of roads, 57 kilometers of railroads and 90 bridges damaged. At least 80 districts have suffered from electric power disruption.
3. There is more information on impact and damage in the more accessible parts of the North Caucasus such as Ingushetia, than Chechnya, from which only a limited flood impact picture exists. There are reports, however, that the army has also commenced a relief effort in this Republic.
National and International Response
4. The Government of the Russian Federation has not requested international assistance.
5. The amount of aid that has been distributed by EMERCOM OF RUSSIA since the flood struck includes: 2,056 pieces of equipment, 13 airplanes and helicopters, 79 boats, 50 tents, 1,000 blankets, 2,000 plastic sheets, 1,000 pillowcases, canned meat, canned milk and sugar.
6. OCHA and other humanitarian organizations are particularly concerned about the conditions among already vulnerable groups such as the IDPs in camps and other (informal) settlements. UNHCR provides support through the distribution of tents and blankets and has started a round of rapid assessments of all IDP locations in Ingushetia to verify flood damage and impact.
7. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office, as well as with the OCHA Offices in Moscow and Nazran, and will revert with further information, as it becomes avilable.
8. 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
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
**************************** * OCHA's Report No. 2 is available here.
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