Almost all rivers are flowing below danger level and water has considerably receded. People evacuated during flood have started returning to their homes. Since many of the houses have collapsed people are still living on the high land/express highways and embankments. With vast tract of more than eleven districts still waterlogged and almost cent percent crop loss, health and drinking water along with livelihood have emerged as the major concern for the government and the civil society organisations.
The extent of the damage is as follows (source: Govt of Orissa)
- Death toll: 98
- Flood affected population: 9.341 million
- Districts affected: 24
- Number of Blocks affected: 216
- Number of Panchayats affected: 2650
- Number of villages affected: 17630
- No. of breaches formed: 944
- No. of Cattle lost: 14142
- Houses Damaged: 242555
- Crop loss: 0.891 million hectares
- Crop loss estimated: 13.54 million USD
- However detail assessment of Govt is under process
Impact of the disaster:
Water released from the Hirakud dam flooded coastal areas of Orissa affecting more than 9.341 million & about 200,000 people are still marooned
The crop loss of paddy and few non-paddy over an area of 0.891 million hectors is 100 %. These are only the initial assessments and detail assessment report is awaited
It is estimated that even today, more than 40000 people continue to be shelter less. About 10000 people have been provided shelter in tents provided by Govt, UN agencies and NGOs.
Water and sanitation in more than 10000 villages have been badly hit and water-borne diseases may break out.
Water sources affected
- 26,000 public and 20000 private tube wells
- 123 rural pipe water systems
- 10,000 dug wells (Sanitary wells)
Health services have been badly hit due to flooding of 235 health centres. Reports of water-borne diseases are being received from Govt control room, NGOs and National UN Volunteer Doctors.
Health Situation |
Progressive Cases
|
Deaths
|
Diarrhoeal cases |
34100
|
33
|
Suspected malarial |
14772
|
12
|
Acute jaundice |
58
|
2
|
Snake Bite |
185
|
17
|
It is learnt that Govt of Orissa have sent SOS message to Govt of India to rush more medicines and health teams in view of the rise in number of cases of diarrhoea and malaria.
Feeding programme through the ICDS centres is badly hit due to flooding in the villages. It is estimated that 197 Anganwadi Centres (feeding centres for Children) are damaged.
Educational institutions have also been hit and classes suspended in affected areas.
Crop damage is 100% in 136 Blocks of the state affecting a population of more than 4 million.
Diseases are spreading among cattle, which has caused many deaths.
Breaches formed in the embankments, submerged land masses, landslide, washed away bridges /Culvert have obstructed major road communication
Due to flood in the coastal district, 88,000 fishermen have been affected.
Total livestock affected due to flood are 4004032.
Government action:
Prime Minister of India made an aerial survey of flood affected districts of Orissa and has sympathised with the flood-affected families. Govt of India have so far announced following package:
- Rs 100.00 crores for rescue and relief
- 300,000 mt of food grains for food for work
- 100,000 houses
This is against an initial assessment report of Rs 756.00 crores given by the State Govt. However detail assessment report is expected in about seven days time since many areas are still waterlogged.
Deployment of Army personnel for relief and rescue operation has been withdrawn where as OSAP/APR/Home Guard engagement continues. 1258 Motor vehicles of different kinds have been requisitioned and supplied for rescue and relief operation.
Air dropping of food materials closed with effect from 30.07.2001, 582.90 MTs of food packets in total has been airdropped.
Free Kitchen arrangements have been closed in all districts except Puri, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur and Jharsuguda.
Cattle feed of 3199 MT has been despatched to 17 districts. Preventive vaccination of 712000 doses has been supplied to 19 districts.
Out of 4276440 livestock affected 230552 animals have been treated.
2.57 crores of Halogen tablets and 61.55 lakhs of ORS packets had been despatched to different affected districts. Additional doctors 226, Paramedical workers 111, attendant 22 and Medical student 17 have been deployed to different districts.
Towards containment measures 233887 wells, 3668 houses, 1522 Ghats have been disinfected.
Relief materials distributed by government to different districts are (rice- 31055 MT, Chuda-3744.38 MT, Polythene rolls- 50000)
Rs. 5577.72 lakhs have been released by SRC out of CRF for food for work activities.
OSDMA is conducting regular meeting with Government, UN agencies and NGOs in which following has been discussed in the meeting held on: 31.07.01.
1. It was indicated that although a number of organisations are working in the field and supplementing the efforts of the Govt to mitigate the sufferings of the people in the flood affected areas; there is lack of proper reporting. All the organisations present were requested to send regular reports in the format circulated.
2. M.D.OSDMA indicated that GoO& NGO co-ordination at the district & block level has to improve. Concerned Collectors/BDOs are to be informed about different organisations relief programmes / activities.
3. Sri G.K. Dhal, Additional Special Relief Commissioner in charge of Kendrapada district, emphasized the need for GoO & NGO’s efforts in dissemination of warning, evacuation, rescue & relief operation.
4. There is need for continuance of free kitchen for some more days in Bari block and few other villages, which remain still marooned.
5. M.D., OSDMA requested the NGOs to give their feed back as to the places where installation of VHF sets are necessary on priority basis for communication during floods.
6. Close watch on the health situation for about a month is essential and cases of diarrhoea if noticed, should immediately be intimated to the PHC and if possible to the CDMO.
7. Some members requested for greater attention to the flood affected areas of Nayagarh district.
UN agencies action:
W.H.O has established contact with State health control room and daily disease surveillance reports are being received and response analysed. All the districts where NUNV Doctors are working are submitting daily reports from all reporting units. It is not very encouraging in other districts.
At the request of Government of Orissa, 5 teams of UNV/WHO-NPSP doctors have been sent to the worst affected districts to assist the district health administration in Disease Surveillance including rapid response to out breaks.
W.H.O is also providing technical assistance to the GoO as and when necessary as well as coordinating with the NGOs.
To strengthen the disease surveillance system during the crisis, W.H.O with the partnership of NGOs are supporting the team of doctors/ volunteers.
The rapid UN assessment for flood on sectors like health, water/sanitation, food security, nutrition, shelter and livelihood was done on 25 & 26th July 2001. UN agencies in Bhubaneswar (FAO, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, UNV, UNDP) participated the assessment, which has been done in 6 worst flood affected districts.
UNDP with request from Government of Orissa will support family emergency kits for the flood-affected population. One national networked NGO- Bharat Gyan Vigyan Samiti (BGVS) has been identified for the distribution of ten thousand numbers of emergency family kit. Need assessment for vulnerable families and procurement of family kits will be done by BGVS. This is supported by OCHA.
Viewing the extent of devastation UNDP has decided that four District Support Officers will be recruited in districts (Kendrapada, Jajpur, Puri & Kalahandi) and one Specialist Volunteer at OSDMA to strengthen coordination efforts of OSDMA at the State and District level.
UNDP is planning to take up habitat and livelihood restoration programmes in the affected districts for vulnerable families.
UNICEF supplied inflatable boats (20) and fibreglass boats (5). They have started arriving and they are being sent to needy districts by the State relief authorities. Tents supplied by UNICEF have also been despatched to the districts. Essential drugs have been supplied and support for drinking water has also commenced already.
UNICEF has provided support for printing of health and water and sanitation IEC messages and they are being distributed through Govt departments and also the NGOs and NUNVs.
UNICEF is planning to strengthen delivery of normal programmes in the affected districts.
Both UNDP and UNICEF have provided mobility support to officials involved in relief operations.
WFP has deployed a logistic expert to support OSDMA in management of relief goods and developing a warehousing strategy
WFP is in the process of using generated funds toward the purchase of non-food items to assist the rehabilitation of the ICDS project.
In order to assist children and pregnant/lactating mothers (while adhering fully to relevant Plans of Operations), WFP in collaboration with Department of Women and Child Development has accelerated supplementary feeding in Koraput district and 4 districts of the PRRO 6220. Following are relevant details:
Districts |
Beneficiaries
(pregnant women, nursing mothers and children 6mths to 6yrs) |
Commodities distributed, MT
Through GoO, DWCD |
|
CSB
|
India Mix
|
||
Koraput |
141,300
|
529
|
-
|
Jagatsinghpur |
66,285
|
126
|
|
Kendrapara |
83,038
|
90
|
|
Puri |
55,600
|
54
|
|
Jajpur |
62,040
|
90
|
|
Total |
408,263
|
529
|
360
|
WFP is intending to develop an understanding with partner NGOs for food for development in the affected districts.
FAO supplied agricultural inputs under the ongoing FAO-TCP have been provided to the state Govt.
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Need for international assistance:
Govt have requested UN agencies for temporary shelters, boats, provision of drinking water and essential drugs.
Govt is yet to assess the damage and comprehensive request of Govt is anticipated only after the assessment is complete.
FLOOD-LIKE SITUATION IS GOING TO CONTINUE IN THE NEXT 45 DAYS AT LEAST DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS PASSING THROUGH THE PEAK MONSOON. OVER AND ABOVE THIS ENTIRE DELTA IS NOW FLOODED AND DRAINAGE HAS BEEN SLOW. UN EMERGENCY CELL IS KEEPING A CLOSE WATCH AND IS MAINTAINING CONTACTS WITH ALL FIELD STAFF. WATER LEVEL IS RECEDING IN SOME AREAS. SOME AREAS ARE HAVING HEAVY RAINFALL FOR LAST FEW HOURS. THIS WILL SURELY CREATE HAVOC IN AREAS WHERE PEOPLE HAD STARTED RETURNING TO THEIR VILLAGES.
Major issues:
1. The districts affected now are also the cyclone-affected districts and livelihood restoration for about 4 million will be a major concern.
2. Strengthening all social safety nets for the affected population, if large-scale migration is to be prevented.
3. Three successive disasters in the state have virtually shaken the confidence of the people and any intervention by the Govt and civil society will have to be more holistic than project driven. It implies therefore that even the restoration exercise will have to extend beyond a normal time frame.
4. Will the restoration exercise lead to higher degree of preparedness among the community, Government and civil society organisations?
5. Exploring wider role for civil society organisations for reaching the unreached communities in view of the incongruence between the resource availability and existing delivery mechanisms.
6. Crisis prevention and recovery will have to be integral and a frontal activity in all-developmental programmes from now on.
The UNDMT situation reports and other related information on Orissa Floods July 2001 can be accessed at http://www.un.org.in/Jinit/dmt.htm