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In Brief
Period covered: 1 June to 30 June, 2005; Appeal coverage: 62%;
Appeal history:
- The emergency appeal was launched on
24 May 2005 for CHF 467,007 (USD 380,09 0 or EUR 302,045) in cash, kind,
or services to assist 16,000 beneficiaries for seven months.
- Disaster Relief Emergency Funds (DREF) allocated: CHF 50,000.
Outstanding needs: CHF 177,312 (USD 142,339 or EUR 114,839)
Related Annual Appeal no 05AA069
Operational Summary: Over the last month, heavy rains, floods and landslides have continued in Svaneti, Imereti, and Kvemo Kartli regions . It has affected adversely the population, their livelihoods and infrastructure adding to existing deficits in the health, water and sanitation services as a result of long-term economic decline. The water supply system in Oni, Racha-Lechkhumi region in western Georgia, for instance, has collapsed. Heavy landslides in Svaneti region, in the north-west, blocked the roads to Mestia district and left its population unreachable for several weeks in June 2005. This has meant the Red Cross could not carry out planned activities in this area. Roads were still impassable when this report was released. The weather, however, has improved over the last few days. Mud on the roads has started to dry and it is expected the communication to the villages high up in the mountains will resume within a week.
Meanwhile, the Red Cross Society of Georgia, supported by the Federation Secretariat, has responded to the needs of the population in other floods-affected regions. It distributed food and non-food items donated by the Iranian and Turkish Red Crescent Societies to a total of 60 families (240 persons) in Kvemo Kartli in east Georgia. In July 2005, when the roads are cleared, food will be distributed in the Mestia district too, in coordination with the World Food Programme. The Federation has employed a technical consultant to evaluate the feasibility of rehabilitation of the water supply system in Oni. Findings indicate it is more durable to build a new system there instead of investing into rehabilitation of the old one. The scope of works and price list for the construction work will now be developed and a tender will be opened to identify a company which will carry out the works. In the meantime, the Red Cross distributed jerry cans kindly donated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to some 950 households so that the population can collect and store water from natural spring sources several kilometres away form the town. In addition, the Red Cross is planning to distribute a seven-month supply of basic hygiene items to a total of 800 of the most affected families in Mestia district as well as conduct public health and hygiene campaigns through a network of community volunteers. The procurement of items is ongoing. A training curriculum for volunteers is also being developed and community training will start shortly. The campaigns will cover the prevention of water -borne diseases, safe use of water, as well as hygiene and sanitation practices.
Donor response to the emergency appeal has been good. The total income stands at CHF 289,695, which is 62 percent of the appeal budget. Additionally, CHF 177,312 (USD 142,339 or EUR 114,839) is required to enable the Red Cross to achieve all the set objectives by the end of the year.
Background
Heavy rainfall, warm temperatures and a sudden onset of seasonal snow melt resulted in floods in the western Georgian regions of Racha-Lechkhumi, Lower (Kvemo) Svaneti, Imereti and Samegrelo-Upper (Zemo) Svaneti on 25-26 April 2005. On 27-30 April the eastern regions of Inner (Shida) Kartli, Lower (Kvemo) Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Adjara and part of Samtskhe-Javakheti were also affected. Landslides and mudflows have occurred in many mountainous areas. While fortunately there has been no loss of human life, the damage to already poor infrastructure, residential buildings and agriculture has been extensive. Populations from a number of villages have been relocated due to fears for their safety. Families from damaged or destroyed houses have mostly found temporary shelter with relatives, friends, or neighbours. Transport infrastructure has been heavily affected. Many bridges and kilometres of road have been washed away isolating some of the villages.
On 28 April 2005, the Georgian government appealed for international assistance. On the same day (28 April 2005), the Federation launched a minor emergency alert to inform the international community of the disaster. CHF 50,000 was allocated from the Federation's Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) and a Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) was deployed to collect information on the scale of damage, identify the needs, recommend on Red Cross action and initiate an appropriate response to the disaster. Based on FACT team findings, on 24 May 2005, the Federation launched an emergency appeal to help 16,000 people in Mestia district (16 villages), Oni, Akhmeta and Khulo for seven months.
For further information specifically related to this operation please contact:
Mr. Giorgi Gigiberia, Secretary General of the Georgian Red Cross; phone +995 32 961 534; Fax +995 32 953 304; email ggigiberia@redcross.ge
Mr. Ashot Sargsyan, Federation representative in Georgia; phone +995 32 922 248; Fax +995 32 922 249; email ifrcge01@ifrc.org
Ms. Sylvie Chevalley, regional officer, Federation Secretariat, Geneva, phone + 41 22 730 4276 email sylvie.chevalley@ifrc.org
All International Federation assistance seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and is committed to the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response in delivering assistance to the most vulnerable. For support to or for further information concerning Federation programmes or operations in this or other countries, or for a full description of the national society profile, please access the Federation's website at http://www.ifrc.org
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