Southern Armenia Floods Situation Report No.3

7 July 1997

I. SITUATION UPDATE

1. On 2 July, staff of the Sisian UNHCR Field Office, who had already provided support to the first DHA mission to the area on 24-25 June, assessed the situation in Goris after a second major flood affected the town on 30 June 1997.

2. According to the findings, the situation had worsened. New damages were caused by the 55 mm of rain that fell within one and a half hour on 30 June. As the drainage systems were still obstructed by debris from the flood of 22 June, the system was not able to cope with the new streams of water. Most of the houses near the drainage systems were severely affected.

3. The second main bridge of the city was also destroyed by the second flood and another bridge had been severely damaged. Road connections had been further affected.

4. During a meeting with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Goris, the implementation of emergency repairs was discussed. At that moment, the main objective was to clean up the drainage systems to prevent new flooding in the town.

5. On June 30, also neighboring villages experienced intense hail storms and flooding, causing general damage.

II. NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. On 3 July, the UK Government announced a cash contribution of USD 30,000, through DHA-Geneva,to support the emergency repair of water supply and sewage systems in Goris.


7. On 3 July, a meeting took place in Yerevan between the Deputy Minister of Health, UN agencies, NGOs and the Chief Doctor of Goris. The Ministry of Health provided medical supplies, worth 10,500,000 drams (USD 21,000), to local hospitals, medical centres and policlinics. UNICEF suggested to start social mobilization campaigns in order to inform people on how to prevent the outbreak of diseases.It was furthermore agreed during the meeting that ICU, which has an office in Goris, will try to co-ordinate all medical efforts. The ICU Office in Goris will identify criteria in order to compile a list of beneficiaries for the hygiene kits (1500) provided by UMCOR. The emergency kits provided by UNICEF will be given to the Chief Doctor of the Goris hospital. A second meeting will take place on Monday, 7 July in Yerevan.

8. DHA Field Unit met with CARE in Yerevan to discuss emergency needs in the rural areas. During the meeting, CARE indicated interest in emergency agricultural rehabilitation. The CARE office in Yerevan will assess the situation and submit a project proposal to their Headquarters.

9. The Jenishian Foundation, in Yerevan, contacted DHA for additional information on the emergency requirements and expressed interest to provide assistance to Goris.

10. Following an assessment mission of IFRC and the Armenian Red Cross (ARC) to Goris, IFRC and ARC decided to support the reconstruction of a school.

11. This is last DHA situation report on this disaster unless new developments arise. DHA will meanwhile continue to monitor the situation in Goris town and facilitate the delivery of emergency assistance as required.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform DHA-Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding value 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
Contact for media: 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