Albania - Floods Nov 1992 UN DHA Situation Reports 1-4

UNDRO 92/0775
ALBANIA - FLOODS
DHA-UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO.1
20 NOVEMBER 1992

1. THREE DAYS OF HEAVY RAIN HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS FLOODING IN NORTHERN ALBANIA. THE MAT AND DRIN RIVERS HAVE OVERFLOWED THEIR BANKS AND INUNDATED LARGE AREAS WITH UP TO 1 METRE OF WATER. MOST DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED TO HOUSING, LIVE STOCK, AND CROPS. THERE ARE REPORTS OF DAMAGE TO THE FIERZA HYDROELECTRIC FACILITY, AND ELECTRICITY TO SOME OF THE AFFECTED AREAS HAS BEEN CUT. SOME LOSS OF LIFE IS ALSO REPORTED. NO RELIABLE QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES IS AVAILABLE YET.

2. PRESIDENT SALI BERISHA HAS TOURED THE WORST-AFFECTED AREAS. THE GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED AN INTER-MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND NUTRITION REXHEP UXA TO DEAL WITH THE CRISIS. THE ALBANIAN ARMY IS SAID TO HAVE LAUNCHED HELICOPTER RESCUE FLIGHTS. HELICOPTERS OF OPERATION PELICAN ARE ALSO REPORTED TO HAVE CONDUCTED RESCUE MISSIONS.

3. TO DATE THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO DECISION WITH RESPECT TO LAUNCHING AN INTERNATIONAL APPEAL.

4. DHA/UNDRO STANDS READY TO DESPATCH A DELEGATE IF NEEDED.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-UNDRO

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EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-733.20.10.

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DPR 310 ALB

UNDRO 92/0778

ALBANIA - FLOODS
DHA-UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO.2
20 NOVEMBER 1992

1. IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST BY DHA/UNDRO/UNDP RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE IN TIRANA, DHA/UNDRO IS SENDING A RELIEF COORDINATION OFFICER TO ASSIST IN THE ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGES DUE TO SERIOUS FLOODING IN NORTHERN ALBANIA.

2. LATEST REPORTS INDICATE AT LEAST SEVEN PEOPLE KILLED AND HOMES OF ABOUT 13,000 FLOODED WHEN MATI RIVER BURST ITS BANKS.

3. A FURTHER REPORT WILL BE ISSUED AS SOON AS THERE IS A QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE NEEDS RESULTING FROM THIS EMERGENCY.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-UNDRO

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DPR 310 ALB

UNDRO 92/0782

ALBANIA - FLOODS
DHA-UNDRO SITUATION REPORT NO.3
24 NOVEMBER 1992

GENERAL SITUATION

1. THE DHA-UNDRO DELEGATE FIELDED TO ASSIST THE UN/DMT REPORTS THAT FOLLOWING THREE DAYS OF EXCEPTIONALLY HEAVY RAINS, THE RIVERS MAT AND DRIN HAVE OVERFLOODED AND PARTLY BROKEN THEIR EMBANKMENTS RESULTING IN FLASH FLOODS IN SIX DISTRICTS: KRUJA, LAC, LEZHA, SHKDORA, TROPJA AND MIRDITA.

2. THE WATER, WHICH IS NOW RECEDING, HAS WASHED AWAY PRACTICALLY ALL BELONGINGS OF MANY FAMILIES AND DESTROYED FOOD STORED FOR THE COMING WINTER.

3. THE FLOODS HAVE ALSO CAUSED DAMAGE TO ROADS, BRIDGES, RIVER BANKS AND IRRIGATION NETWORKS. 17,000 HA OF AGRICULTURAL LAND HAVE BEEN INUNDATED. ELECTRICAL POWER WAS CUT IN MOST OF THE AFFECTED AREA AND HAS ONLY NOW BEEN RESTORED IN THE MAIN TOWNS.

4. THE FLOODS HAVE CAUSED ADDITIONAL STRAIN ON THE ALREADY WEAK EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE RESOURCES AND MAY HAVE DAMAGED THE HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE NUMBER OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES WILL INCREASE DUE TO THE FLOODS AND COLD CLIMATE.

5. EARLY INFORMATION FROM THE AFFECTED DISTRICTS INDICATES 6,000 FAMILIES (APPROXIMATELY 30,000 PEOPLE) HAVE BEEN AFFECTED, 216 HOUSES WERE DESTROYED, 1330 HOUSES AND 8 SCHOOLS DAMAGED. 7 PEOPLE DIED. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN SIGNIFICANT LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK AND FEED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT SOME AREAS (LIKE KASHNJET IN LEZHA DISTRICT) HAVE NOT YET BEEN REACHED AT ALL AND THE NUMBERS QUOTED ABOVE MIGHT RISE AS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE.

6. OF THE AFFECTED POPULATION, SOME HAVE BEEN EVACUATED AND GIVEN TEMPORARY SHELTER WITH NEIGHBOURS OR IN OTHER VILLAGES. MOST EVACUEES ARE NOW RETURNING TO THE REMAINS OF THEIR HOUSES AS THE WATER RECEDES. HOWEVER THE LACK OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND THE ABSENCE OF THE REQUIRED GOODS IN LOCAL MARKETS LIMIT THEIR ABILITY TO CLEAN UP OR REPLACE PROPERTY AND FOOD RESERVES LOST IN THE FLOODS.

RESPONSE

7. THE GOVERNMENT HAS RESPONDED WITH ALL AVAILABLE MEANS. THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS ADOPTED A SPECIAL DECISION TO HELP THE AFFECTED FAMILIES WITH MONEY, FOOD AND CLOTHING.

8. THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRIME MINISTER HAVE PERSONALLY VISITED THE AFFECTED AREAS. AN ACCOUNT HAS BEEN OPENED FOR VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT'S EFFORTS ARE BEING COORDINATED BY A NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER UKA SET UP IN RESPONSE TO THIS EMERGENCY.

9. THE PRESIDENT AS WELL AS DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER UKA HAVE DECLARED THAT INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE IN COPING WITH THE SITUATION IS NEEDED AND WELCOME. THE GOVERNMENT HAS APPROACHED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY PRESENT IN ALBANIA TO RAISE SUPPORT FOR THE EMERGENCY OPERATION. A MORE DETAILED APPEAL WILL BE ADDRESSED TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AS SOON AS THE ASSESSMENT OF DAMAGE AND NEEDS IS COMPLETED (PROJECTED WEDNESDAY 25 NOV 92).

10. THE UNITED NATIONS DMT IS ASSISTING THE NATIONAL EMERGENCY COMMITTEE IN ASSESSING THE SITUATION AND MOBILIZING INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

SHELTER

• BLANKETS AND FOAM MATTRESSES
• LIGHTWEIGHT BEDS
• FAMILY KITS INCLUDING COOKING UTENSILS ETC.
• WINTER CLOTHING AND SHOES PARTICULARLY FOR CHILDREN TO 14 YEARS
• PLASTIC SHEETING IN SMALLER QUANTITIES FOR REPAIRS
• SMALL OR MEDIUM SIZED WOOD BURNING STOVES

NO TENTS OR MATERIAL FOR TEMPORARY SHELTER ARE NEEDED SINCE THE NUMBER OF DESTROYED HOUSES IS RELATIVELY SMALL AND THE AFFECTED POPULATION IS MOVING BACK TO THEIR DAMAGED HOUSES.

FOOD

TO RECONSTITUTE WINTER STOCKS:

• LENTILS
• BEANS
• PEAS
• WHEAT AND MAIZE FLOUR
• POTATOES

SOME OF THESE ITEMS MAY BE AVAILABLE ON THE LOCAL MARKET.

11. HEALTH

• INJECTABLE ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL DRUGS
• BASIC HEALTH CARE EQUIPMENT

A DETAILED LIST OF THE NEEDED MEDICAMENTS AND EQUIPMENT IS BEING PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN COLLABORATION WITH WHO.

WATER AND SANITATION

12. APPROXIMATELY 10 METRIC TONS OF BLEACHING POWDER.

EMERGENCY REPAIRS

13. REPAIR TO EMBANKMENTS AND HYDRO CONTROL SYSTEMS. TRANSFORMERS TO REPAIR ELECTRIC SUPPLY SYSTEM.

CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED TO DHA/UNDRO

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-UNDRO

TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-731.02.11 EXT:2634/2632
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-733.20.10.

DUTY OFFICER: FABRIZIO GENTILONI
DESK OFFICER: M. HELKE EXT.: 2409

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DPR 310 ALB

DHA-UNDRO 92/0799

ALBANIA - FLOODS
DHA-UNDRO SITUATION REPORT NO. 4
9 DECEMBER 1992

GENERAL SITUATION

1. RELIEF ACTIVITIES ARE CONTINUING IN THE NORTHERN PARTS OF ALBANIA FOLLOWING THE FLASH FLOODS WHICH OCCURRED MID-NOVEMBER. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECLARED TWO MORE DISTRICTS, MAT AND KUKES AFFECTED IN ADDITION TO THE SIX PREVIOUSLY REPORTED DISTRICTS. THE FLOODS HAVE AFFECTED A POOR AREA WHERE LIVING CONDITIONS WERE ALREADY CUMBERSOME AND RESOURCES VERY SCARCE, MAKING REHABILITATION OF BASIC SERVICES AND RETURN TO NORMAL LIFE DIFFICULT.

2. RESULTS OF A DETAILED POST-DISASTER ASSESSMENT CARRIED OUT BY THE GOVERNMENT SHOWS THAT THE FLOODS HAVE CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO HOUSING (352 PARTIALLY/160 TOTALLY) AND INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS SCHOOLS AND HEALTH POSTS (57). DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDE BRIDGES (20), AQUEDUCTS (7), BREAKWATERS (680,000 CUBIC METERS), DRAINAGE AND IRRIGATION CANALS (1554 KM). 65 TRANSFORMERS HAVE BEEN DAMAGED TOGETHER WITH ELECTRICAL SUPPLY LINES. THE VALUE OF THE DIRECT DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE FLOODS IS ESTIMATED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO 680 MILLION LECS (APPROXIMATELY USD 7 MILLION).

RESPONSE

5. THE GOVERNMENT IS PROVIDING RELIEF TO THE AFFECTED POPULATION AS WELL AS ASSISTANCE IN RESTARTING BASIC ACTIVITIES. A NATIONAL ACCOUNT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP IN THIS EFFORT.

6. THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY HAS RESPONDED TO THE APPEAL FOR ASSISTANCE BY THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT WITH CONTRIBUTIONS BOTH IN CASH AND KIND.

OUTSTANDING RELIEF NEEDS

7. THE RELIEF NEEDS REMAIN THE SAME AS REPORTED IN SITUATION REPORT NO. 3 WITH THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENTS:

SHELTER: HEATERS (KEROSENE, FOR HEATING AND COOKING PURPOSES) FOR AT LEAST 2,000 FAMILIES.

LIVESTOCK: RECONSTITUTION OF LOSSES OF CATTLE, OVINE, PIGS AND POULTRY.

HEALTH: ANTIBIOTICS AND OTHER ESSENTIAL DRUGS AS PER LIST PREPARED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND SUBMITTED TO WHO.

EMERGENCY REPAIRS: URGENT REPLACEMENT OF 65 TRANSFORMERS (ESTIMATED VALUE 7.8 MILLION LECS OR APPROXIMATELY USD 80,000), 6 KM OF HV CABLE, 8.7 STANDARD CABLE AND 382 DISTRIBUTION PILLARS FOR WHICH CASH CONTRIBUTIONS ARE NEEDED TO ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT TO MAKE THE NECESSARY PURCHASE ABROAD).

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE (AS REPORTED TO DHA-UNDRO)

1. UNLESS SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES IN THE SITUATION SHOULD OCCUR, THIS IS THE LAST DHA-UNDRO SITUATION REPORT ON THIS EMERGENCY.

DHA-UNDRO 414242 DRO CH

DPR 310 ALB'92 (1)

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