Dominican Republic - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2003/0148
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Dominican Republic - Floods
4 December 2003

Situation

1. Since mid-November torrential rains have caused severe floods as well as overflowing of rivers and dams. A report provided by the National Emergency Commission on 1 December 2003 confirms that 10 people have died and 3 were injured in the disaster. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Dominican Republic, the latest information available about the impact on people and housing is as follows:

2. While recognizing the severity of the situation, the Government has not declared a regional nor a national state of emergency. They have however addressed to the United Nations Resident Coordinator a request for immediate assistance.

3. Further information on the emergency situation available at the SIGCO (Information Management System for International Coordination) website www.inundaciones2003.org.do

Coordination and Response

4. The Emergency Operations Centre has been activated at full capacity and relief items have been provided by the Government to the affected population. After having identified the immediate needs, the decision was taken to create three follow-up groups in order to improve coordination: health, water supply and sanitation; relief; food.

5. The United Nations Resident Coordinator is actively supporting the coordination of international emergency assistance and has several times held meetings with representatives of: Government, National Red Cross Society, ECHO, FAO, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, WFP, WHO/PAHO and NGO's.

6. Several assessment missions have been undertaken in the disaster-affected areas by the authorities, UN System, Red Cross and NGOs. ECLAC has begun a mission which will continue in January 2004.

7. WHO/PAHO are coordinating all activities related to the field of health and sanitation: strengthening epidemiological as well as entomological surveillance, implementing information and education programs, controlling water quality and supplies and coordinating medical care to the affected population.

8. FAO is preparing a rehabilitation project with the Ministry of Agriculture.

Contributions

9. Contributions reported to OCHA so far are:

10. OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with relevant organizations in the United Nations system. For banking details please contact the Desk Officers indicated below. OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.

11. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized contributions Recording Format, available electronically at the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

12. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
Mr. Erik Haegglund, Mr. Ricardo Mena, Ms. Isabel Garcia-Gill
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 73 299 / 1455/ 1618

Press contact:
(GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.) - Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43