Central America - Earthquake OCHA Situation Report No. 7

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2001/0008
OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Central America - Earthquake
17 January 2001

El Salvador

Situation

1. The United Nations Resident Coordinator in El Salvador informs that some 1,100 aftershocks have been recorded, causing the population to remain alarmed. According to the National Emergency Committee (COEN), the death toll rose to 666 (260 from the landslide zone of Santa Tecla, in the Department of La Libertad), with 2,538 injured. Approximately 40,000 people nationwide have been affected by the powerful earthquake of 13 January 2001.

2. Most of the roads damaged by landslides are reportedly rehabilitated. The Pan American Highway between Santa Ana and San Salvador, in the western part of the country, is accessible via provisional roads. However, in the eastern part of the Highway in San Vicente there is a landslide of more than 200,000 cubic meters of earth. In some sectors of Comasagua and in Berlin, damage assessment has not yet been carried out due to the cut-off roads.

3. According to the information provided by the Ministry of Public health and the Pan American Health Organization/ World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), some 1,346 hospital beds have been disabled due to the infrastructural damage. The following National Hospitals have been damaged by the earthquake: San Miguel, Zacatecoluca, San Rafael and Usulutan. The San Salvador Hospital Maternity Ward has also been partially affected, resulting in the evacuation of expecting mothers.

4. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle, the damage to the productive infrastructure is estimated at USD 2 million.

Temporary shelters

5. The National Emergency Committee (COEN) provided the following information on 75 temporary shelters:

Immediate Emergency Requirements

6. The UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team informs the following priority needs:

For rescue operations (bodies' removal)

Lighting equipment for night operations, 500 pairs of heavy-duty gloves, batteries, portable showers, communication equipment, masks for covering mouth, bodybags, digging tools, Diesel fuel for heavy equipment (1,500 gallons for 24 hours), office setup for body identification

2 refrigerating containers, fuel for helicopters and for food distribution.

For people in temporary shelters

Mattresses and blankets, tents, plastic sheets, kitchen utensils and sets, personal hygiene materials, jerry cans, sanitary napkins, powder milk, diapers.

PAHO/WHO has reported that the stock of medicines to attend the existing needs is sufficient. The main areas requiring special attention are: Epidemiological control, sanitation, mental health, water-supply and health education.

National Response

7. The National Emergency Committee (COEN) continues to coordinate relief activities and it has set up a web page with information on this emergency at: www.coensv.50megs.com.

8. The National Commission for Solidarity, in charge of the reception and distribution of the contributions from the international community, has produced an official guide on direct cash contributions, which can be found at their website: www.rree.go.sv.

9. Contributions can be placed in the following accounts, especially set up by the Government for this purpose: Banco Salvadoreño, savings account number 024-54-0020989, or Banco Agricola, checking account number 303-002-002-3, in each case, with the reference Comite Financiero de Solidaridad (CONFISOL).

International Assistance

10. A list of contributions reported to date is attached. For further information on international assistance, interested donor countries may wish to contact the focal point for international assistance at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Dr. Elisabeth Cubias, International Assistance Coordinator, mobile no. +503-8-85.80.74, fax no.503-2-43.85.82, e-mail: ecubias@rree.gob.sv

11. The UNDAC Team has established its operation center in the UN Resident Coordinator's office in San Salvador, and is carrying out damage assessment missions and assisting in the coordination of international humanitarian assistance.

12. WFP logistics and operations support staff from the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Nicaragua and Guatemala Country Offices have arrived in the country. Vehicles and communications equipment were sent from WFP Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua in a joint effort from the region to assist El Salvador. Food stocks in Choluteca, Honduras and Corinto, Nicaragua are ready to be delivered to El Salvador, if required. An assessment of emergency food requirements for relief and rehabilitation will be conducted this week, in order to determine the need for a larger emergency operation.

13. UNICEF has pledged USD 500,000 for water, medical, educational and logistical needs.

14. PAHO/WHO informs that information on its Humanitarian Supply Management System (SUMA) can be accessed at: www.disaster.info.desastres.net/SUMA.

Guatemala

Situation

15. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Guatemala City, several aftershocks, between 4.5 and 5.5 on the Richter scale, have been felt mainly in the border region with El Salvador (Jutiapa area).

16. National authorities established an emergency operations center (COE) and declared a yellow alert for the entire country. Some 31 houses have been destroyed or damaged and six landslides have been registered. Some six people have been killed, two injured, three missing and approximately 100 people have been affected.

17. The Government has not declared any state of emergency nor requested international assistance.

18. OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used for immediate relief assistance, in co-ordination/consultation with relevant organizations in the United Nations system. Funds should be transferred to OCHA account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: "OCHA -El Salvador - Earthquake." OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.

19. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item.

20. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on the OCHA Internet Website (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions/values.

21. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above mentioned Financial Tracking Website.

22. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA website at http://www.reliefweb.int

Contacts

Telephone: +41-22-917 1234;
Fax: +41-22-9170023;
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency: Tel. +41-22-9172010

Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund / Mr. Carlos Pereira / Ms. Masayo Kondo
Direct tel: +41-22-917 32 99/13 83/19 97

Press contact: Mr. D. Kiniger-Passigli, Direct tel. +41-22-917 26 53