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