Southern Armenia - Floods
DHA-Geneva Situation Report No. 1
26 June 1997
I. DISASTER OVERVIEW
1. Between approximately 7.45 p.m. and
9.15 p.m. on 22 June 1997, 82 mm of rain fell on Goris town and the surrounding
areas in Southern Armenia near the border with Azerbaijan. The level of
precipitation in the area on 22 June had not been experienced since records
began to be kept 70 years ago. Due to the location of the town in a valley
surrounded on all sides by steep hills and mountains, large amounts of
water flowed through the town in a very short period of time. The local
flood-channel system was unable to cope with the flow and parts of the
town were submerged in very fast-moving water and mud. A number of houses
were flooded, roads were literally washed away or carried downstream, sewage
and drinking water systems were destroyed. Four lives were lost and a number
of other people received injuries. Considering the extensive damage, it
is surprising that fatalities and injuries were not considerably higher.
2. At the request of the Deputy Minister
of the Emergency Management Administration of the Republic of Armenia (EMA),
DHA staff undertook a joint disaster assessment mission with EMA to Goris
on 24 and 25 June 1997. Full report prepared by DHA field team is available
from DHA-Geneva upon request.
II. DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
3. Below are preliminary governmental
findings:
-
approximately 2,000 people are without road connections to the main town.
-
approximately 5,000 people are without direct access to drinking water.
-
1,200 households are without electricity or access to electricity.
-
1,700 metres of sewage pipes have been destroyed.
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800 metres of fresh water pipes have been destroyed.
-
47,500 m3 of sand and rocks have been deposited within the town limits,
in some places up to 3 metres in depth.
-
5,000 m3 of storm drains have been damaged or destroyed.
-
2,000 m2 of roads have been destroyed.
-
42,000 m3 of debris need to be cleared from the Varakan river in order
to
ensure a clear flow of any future flood
water from the town.
-
2 bridges have been completely destroyed, others show signs of structural
damage.
III. DAMAGE ESTIMATES:
4. Initial governmental estimates quote
a figure of US Dollars 8,000,000 as representing damage to Goris and the
surrounding villages.
5. Preliminary emergency repair works
to secure the water and sewage systems, restore power and some form of
communication between Goris town centre and the suburbs are estimated at
US Dollars 200,000 (100,000,000 Armenian Drams). This sum does not include
the repair to the critical storm-drainage system.
IV. MISSION CONCLUSIONS
6. The risk of the outbreak of an epidemic
of some form of water-borne disease cannot, at this stage, be discounted,
given the multiple fractures of sewage and water lines, often running in
close proximity to one another, combined with the overall water shortage
being experienced.
7. The town is now without any form
of defence from a further storm situation.
8. Whilst there are no reports of people
being made homeless, a number of dwellings have had part of their foundations
washed away and are, thus, unsafe. Remedial work is urgently required to
secure these homes. Additionally, the basements and ground floors of a
number of dwellings are now submerged in mud, which is causing structural
damage to the homes. Removal of the debris is a priority to prevent further
damage.
9. Losses of crops and home-based gardens
will, in the longer-term, cause some food shortage for the winter.
10. On a region-wide basis, including
villages in Sisian and Goris districts, approximately 5,850 metric tons
of wheat, barley, cereals, potatoes and vegetables have been destroyed,
causing a loss of income to farmers and small-holders. Again, food and
income shortages may be anticipated.
V. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE
11. The national and local authorities
are making large efforts to address the multiple problems caused by the
events of 22 June. However, central government resources are now limited,
given the occurrence of floods in other parts of the country in April,
May and June of this year. Thus external assistance is sought in the mitigation
of the consequences of this disaster.
12. The United Nation Resident Coordinator
in Yeravan will convene a UN system meeting on 26 June to overview UN response
to the disaster. A second meeting with representatives of embassies and
international organizations working in Armenia will be held on 27 June.
13. DHA-Geneva released a USD 10,000
emergency grant for immediate provision of relief assistance to the affected
population.
14. DHA is prepared to serve as a channel
for cash contributions, to be used during the immediate relief phase, in
coordination/consultation with relevant organizations of the United Nations
system. DHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent
details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.
15. Donors wishing to channel their
contributions through DHA should transfer funds to DHA account no. CO.590.160.1
at the Swiss Bank Corporation, Case Postale 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland,
with reference: Armenia/floods, DHA-Geneva.
16. For coordination purposes, donors
are requested to inform DHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions/
pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item.
Telephone number: +41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: +41-22-917-2010
Desk Officer: Mr. Sergio Piazzi, direct
tel: +41-22-917-3518
Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo,
direct tel: +41-22-917-2856
Telex: 41 42 42 dha ch
Fax: +41-22-917-0023
E-Mail: info@dha.unicc.org
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS