DHA-GENEVA 93/0268
INDIA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.1
16 JULY 1993
SITUATION
1. UNUSUALLY HEAVY MONSOON RAINS SINCE 7 JULY 1993 HAVE CAUSED WIDESPREAD FLOODING IN NORTHERN STATES OF INDIA, WITH PUNJAB, HARYANA AND HIMACHAL PRADESH BEING HARDEST HIT. FLASH FLOODS, LANDSLIDES, OVERFLOW OF RIVERS AND IRRIGATION CANALS HAVE INFLICTED A HIGH DEATH TOLL AND SEVERE DAMAGE TO HOUSING, AGRICULTURE AND INFRASTRUCTURE. SEVERAL AREAS REMAIN ISOLATED FROM THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AS TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION LINKS HAVE BEEN CUT.
2. ACCORDING TO UNCONFIRMED PRELIMINARY REPORTS THE DEATH TOLL REACHED 178 AS OF 13 JULY 1993. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT IN PUNJAB ABOUT 10 MILLION PEOPLE, I.E. APPROXIMATELY HALF OF THE POPULATION
ARE AFFECTED.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
3. LARGE-SCALE RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE UNDERWAY. 5,000 ARMY PERSONNEL ARE HELPING POLICE AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL IN EFFORTS TO EVACUATE POPULATION FROM OVER 1,500 MAROONED VILLAGES, DISTRIBUTE RELIEF SUPPLIES, REPAIR ROADS AND RAIL BRIDGES AND FILL BREACHES. AIR FORCE HELICOPTERS AIRDROPPED FOOD, MEDICINES AND BLANKETS TO ISOLATED AREAS.
4. UN/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE MONITORING SITUATION IN CLOSE CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL AUTHORITIES. TO DATE, GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER,
SPONTANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INTERESTED DONORS COULD BE CHANNELLED THROUGH ESTABLISHED RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.
5. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +
TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS):+41-22-917.20.10
DESK OFFICER: S.METZNER-STRACK,DIRECT TEL.+41-22-917.21.44
PRESS TO CONTACT:
DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON:M.KHATIB,DIRECT TEL.+41-22-917.28.56
TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA
DHA-GENEVA 93/0272
INDIA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.2
23 JULY 1993
SITUATION
1. SEVERAL STATES IN INDIA CONTINUE TO REMAIN AFFECTED BY HEAVY RAINS AND WAVES OF FLOODS. A TOTAL OF 489 DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN THE STATES OF PUNJAB (271), GUJARAT (94), HIMACHAL
PRADESH (42), HARYANA (36), JAMMU AND KASHMIR (20), RAJASTHAN (19), MADHYA PRADESH (6) AND CHANDIGARH (1). THREE DAYS OF TORRENTIAL RAIN FLOODED VAST STRETCHES IN WESTERN ASSAM AND
JALPAIGURI TOWN IN WEST BENGAL. NORTH-EASTERN AREAS REMAIN CUT OFF AS ROAD/RAIL LINKS ARE INUNDATED WITH WATER AND BRIDGES HAVE BEEN WASHED AWAY OR FLOODED. DRINKING WATER SUPPLY DISRUPTED IN MANY LOCATIONS DUE TO FLOODING OF PUMPING STATIONS.
2. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAD TO TAKE REFUGE IN EMERGENCY CAMPS IN PUNJAB AND THE NORTH-EAST. MORE THAN 10,000 CATTLE HEADS REPORTED LOST IN PUNJAB (5,752) HIMACHAL PRADESH (4,600), UTTAR PRADESH, RAJASTHAN AND MADHYA PRADESH. DAMAGE TO STANDING CROPS, GRAIN AND COMMODITY STORES, IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, HOUSES AND OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE IS EXTENSIVE AND STILL BEING ASSESSED.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
3. RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS CONTINUE. GOVERNMENT HAS SET UP RELIEF CAMPS AND IS EXTENDING ASSISTANCE TO EVACUATED POPULATION. ARMY HELICOPTERS DROPPING FOOD, MEDICINES AND OTHER ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO FLOOD VICTIMS IN ISOLATED AREAS IN PUNJAB AND ASSAM.
4. GOVERNMENT HAS MADE NO APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, SPONTANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INTERESTED DONORS COULD BE CHANNELLED THROUGH ESTABLISHED RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.
5. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +
TELEPHONE NO:+41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL.NO.(OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS):+41-22-917.20.10
DESK OFFICER: S.METZNER-STRACK,DIRECT TEL.+41-22-917.21.44
PRESS TO CONTACT:
DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON:M.KHATIB,DIRECT TEL.+41-22-917.28.56
TELEX:414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA
DPR 310 IND
DHA-GENEVA 93/0277
INDIA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 3
27 JULY 1993
SITUATION
1. RAINFALL HAS SUBSIDED IN SOME FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS OF NORTHWEST INDIA AND MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT HAS BEEN NOTICED. NEVERTHELESS, DUE TO DETERIORATION OF SITUATION IN SEVERAL
REGIONS, AND AS REPORTS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED FROM ISOLATED AREAS, DEATH TOLL HAS INCREASED AS FOLLOWS: PUNJAB (319 DEATHS), GUJARAT (94), HIMACHAL PRADESH (45), HARYANA (48), JAMMU AND KASHMIR (37), RAJASTHAN (23), MADHYA PRADESH (6) AND CHANDIGARH (2).
2. IN PUNJAB STATE (WORST-HIT REGION OF NORTH INDIA WHERE AN ESTIMATED 3 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ABANDON THEIR HOMES) FLOODWATERS STILL REMAINING IN MANSA AND FEROZPURE
DISTRICTS. SITUATION IN OTHER AFFECTED AREAS IMPROVING AS RAINS HAVE STOPPED AND FLOODWATERS HAVE STARTED TO RECEDE. IN HARYANA STATE, SITUATION RETURNING TO NORMAL IN JIND, KAITHAL, KARNAL, FARIDABAD AND PANIPAT.
3. IN ADDITION TO HAVOC IN NORTHWEST, FURTHER DEATHS HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM NORTH BENGAL, WEST BENGAL, ASSAM AND NORTH BIHAR. ACCORDING TO UNCONFIRMED REPORTS, 300 PERSONS HAVE DIED IN WEST BENGAL.
4. IN ASSAM, FRESH RAINS HAVE INUNDATED PARTS OF BARAK VALLEY, KILLING AT LEAST 13 PEOPLE. AFFECTED POPULATION ESTIMATED AT 550,000. HEAVY RAINS AND FLOODS SINCE 21 JULY IN LARGE PARTS
OF EAST CHAMPARAN AND SITAMARHI DISTRICTS OF NORTH BIHAR HAVE AFFECTED SOME 800,000 PEOPLE.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
5. RELIEF AND RESCUE OPERATIONS CONTINUE. RELIEF CAMPS ESTABLISHED IN ALL AFFECTED AREAS. ARMY AND RAILWAY AUTHORITIES CARRYING OUT REPAIRS TO ROADS, BRIDGES AND RAILWAYS AND ASSISTING CIVILIAN AUTHORITIES IN RELIEF OPERATIONS. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ALSO INVOLVED IN RELIEF WORK. THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF SCARCITY OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIES AND STOCKS ARE CONSIDERED SUFFICIENT TO MEET EMERGENCY REQUIREMENTS.
6. GOVT HAS NOT APPEALED FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE. HOWEVER, SPONTANEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS FROM INTERESTED DONORS COULD BE CHANNELED THROUGH ESTABLISHED RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS.
7. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.
= DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +
TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: S. METZNER-STRACK, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-2144
PRESS TO CONTACT
DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-2856
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA
DPR 310 IND
DHA-GENEVA 93/0290
INDIA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 4
30 JULY 1993
SITUATION AND IMPACT
1. OVERALL CONDITIONS IN NORTHERN REGION HAVE FURTHER IMPROVED, WITH FALL IN LEVELS OF MAJOR RIVERS, WHILE RELIEF MEASURES CONTINUE IN FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS.
2. PRESS REPORTS HIGHEST DEATH TOLL OF 323 IN PUNJAB, 50 IN HARYANA, 47 IN HIMACHAL PRADESH, 2 IN CHANDIGARH, ABOUT 200 IN WEST BENGAL, 117 IN GUJARAT, 39 IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR, 24 IN ASSAM, 19 IN RAJASTHAN AND 6 IN MADHYA PRADESH. TOTAL 827.
3. EST. TOTAL POPULATION AFFECTED IS OVER 128 MILLION PEOPLE. FIRST ASSESSMENT OF OVERALL DAMAGE TO CROPS, HOUSING AND PUBLIC UTILITIES IS OVER USD 700 MILLION.
4. RADIO REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT FLASH FLOODS IN MAHARASHTRA INUNDATED 10 VILLAGES IN RAIGAD DISTRICT. TRANSPORTATION IN BOMBAY, INCLUDING AIR TRAFFIC, BADLY AFFECTED. CIVIL AUTHORITIES
HAVE ALREADY EVACUATED 109 FAMILIES.
NATIONAL RESPONSE
5. GOVT OF INDIA HAS MADE ADVANCE RELEASES OF ITS (CENTRAL) SHARE OF 75 PERCENT OF STATE-OPERATED CALAMITY RELIEF FUNDS TO STATES OF PUNJAB, HARYANA, IRIPURA, KERALA AND MADHYA PRADESH.
6. CONTRIBUTIONS - US DLRS
MANY NGO'S ARE PROVIDING RELIEF ASSISTANCE.
|
NORWAY
|
CASH TO LOCAL NGO'S
|
139,860
|
|
U.S.A.
|
CASH
|
25,000
|
|
SECOURS CATHOLIQUE
|
CASH
|
34,780
|
7. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +
TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: A. UDO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3153
PRESS TO CONTACT
DHA-GENEVA SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-2856
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA
DPR 310 IND
DHA-GENEVA 93/0348
INDIA - FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 5
3 SEPTEMBER 1993
1. FLOOD SITUATION IN ALREADY INUNDATED SITAMARHI, SAMASTIPUR, MUZAFFARPUR AND EAST CHAMPARAN DISTRICTS OF BIHAR STATE FURTHER AGGRAVATED DUE TO EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY SURGING WATER ON RIGHT 'BAGMATI' EMBANKMENT AND EMBANKMENTS OF THE 'ADHWARA' GROUP OF RIVERS AT SEVERAL POINTS. ADDITIONALLY, 'JAMINDARI' EMBANKMENT AT 'PURNEA' HAS BROKEN, INUNDATING ENTIRE TOWN AND MANY VILLAGES IN PURNEA DISTRICT, MAKING IT 15TH DISTRICT AFFECTED BY FLOODS IN NORTH BIHAR.
2. FLOOD PROTECTION ON SEVERAL EMBANKMENTS AND RELIEF WORK GOING ON ROUND-THE-CLOCK.
3. GOVT DOES NOT INTEND TO SEEK EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE, BUT UNSOLICITED AID WOULD BE WELCOME.
4. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS A CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED DURING IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS OF U.N. SYSTEM, AND
DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.
5. FUNDS SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO DHA ACCOUNT NO. CO-590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770, CH-1211 GENEVA 2, WITH FOLLOWING REFERENCE: 'INDIA - FLOODS, DHA-GENEVA.'
6. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA +
TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010
DESK OFFICER: A. UDO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3153
PRESS TO CONTACT MS. SKANDRANI, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3114
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA
DPR 310 IND