This situation report is based on information received from UN Resident Coordinator Office in Argentina and local media:

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The littoral region of Argentina has suffered in the last week an unregistered rainfall and has severely affected the provinces of Entre Rios and Santa Fe where the floods affected almost 4 million hectares and more than 70,000 people.

2. The heavy rain provoked the internal draining canals to overflow, turning into street floods, provincial routes interrupted and complete neighborhoods under water. At its peak, 3 million hectares were under water only in Santa Fe province.

3. In Santa Fe alone, more than 31,000 persons are still living in the improvised 215 shelters in schools, churches and hospitals according to the Provincial Ministry of Health. In the Province of Entre Rios, 18,000 persons are still living in tents along the highways. The return home of the victims from the floods has slowly begun after the second day without rain.

4. The Governor of Santa Fe stated that “the province had undergone the most radical climatic phenomenon of the last 100 years, with an average of 487mm of rain, and in several places that figure even rose to 500mm, when the year average is between 900 and 1,000 mm”

5. This situation, as he stated “affected 59 localities, flooding its entire cities between 50 and 100%, whereas 20 were completely incommunicado and isolated. During the peak of the rainfall, 35,000 persons had to be evacuated.”

6. In the province of Entre Rios alone, five persons died as consequence of the floods prompted by the extreme heavy rains. Some 30.000 persons were evacuated. However, the situation is slowly getting to normal since the rains have stopped and people are also returning to their homes. Nevertheless, authorities are insisting that in many locations the situation is still critical.

7. In the capital city of Entre Rios Province, the estimated damage was calculated in over 10 million dollars according to its Mayor.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

8. In response to the emergency in the Santa Fe Province, the Civil Protection for the Interior Ministry) requested that the White Helmets join the Federal System of Emergencies. White Helmets deployed a team of three experts in disaster management and another group of specialized volunteers to operate in centers of evacuees to provide psycho-social assistance.

9. The Ministry of Health and Social Development allocated emergency fund to assist those affected by the floods in Santa Fe and Entre Rios. Since the beginning of the emergency, the Ministry has also sent several food and non-food items to assist the areas affected.

10. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) deployed a team of experts to assist the authorities to protect the livestock, essential to the livelihood of the communities. The Argentine Government has also issued US$334,000 immediately for emergency feed and veterinary care for the livestock around Reconquista.

UN RESPONSE

11. As a consequence of this alarming situation the UN Resident Coordinator received the request from two Governors from affected provinces to help in sudden response assistance. This assistance includes mainly medical supplies as well as basic equipment for hospitals, food and clothing, and specially material for reconstruction to allow people to return to their places of origin.

12. A joint UN team mission (RC Office, UNDP, UNICEF and PAHO/WHO) is visiting the areas affected.

Accumulated Rainfalls in the week pf 20-26 March