Iraq - Floods: Flash Update No. 1, 25 November 2018

This report is produced by OCHA Iraq in collaboration with humanitarian partners and with the input of official institutions. It covers the events of 22-23 November 2018. Additional Flash Updates may be issued if required.

I. HIGHLIGHTS

• Heavy rainfall on 22-23 November caused severe flooding across Iraq, leading to the displacement of thousands of people

• Ninewa and Salah al-Din are the most heavily-affected governorates, with multiple reports of bridges, roads and villages being inundated

• An estimated 10,000 people in Salah al-Din and 15,000 people in Ninewa need assistance, including thousands of families living in IDP camps.

II. Situation Overview

Torrential rainfall on 22-23 November caused severe flooding across Iraq, leading to the displacement of thousands of people and multiple deaths and injuries. Ninewa and Salah al-Din are the most heavily affected governorates, with bridges, roads and villages being inundated; damage was also recorded in the southern part of the country.

An estimated 10,000 people in Salah al-Din and 15,000 people in Ninewa need assistance, including thousands of families living in IDP camps. Losses are still being assessed, but initial accounts from flooded areas include the destruction of homes, livestock, and household items.

Several needs assessments are already underway, led by the Rapid Response Mechanism and Logistics clusters. Initial reports from partners indicate that the Shirqat district in Salah al-Din, and Qayyarah Airstrip and Jeddah IDP camps in Ninewa, are among the worst affected. Additional needs assessments by health, WASH and protection partners are planned for coming days.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi convened a meeting of the Crisis Management Cell on 23 November to coordinate the emergency response activities of relevant ministries and the Iraqi Red Crescent Society. UN agencies and humanitarian partners have already begun relief activities in affected areas, in coordination with the Government

III. Humanitarian Needs and Response

• An estimated 25,000 people in need of assistance (10,000 in Salah al-Din / 15,000 in Ninewa)

• Initial assessments indicate the need for food, emergency shelter, and NFIs; additional assessments ongoing

• In Salah al-Din;
o UNFPA planned to distribute hygiene kits in coordination with local partners
o NGOs are preparing to deploy mobile medical clinics in coordination with the Directorate of Health
o The Minister of Trade, in coordination with the Joint Coordination and Monitoring Center (JCMC), approved the allocation of food rations, blankets, mattresses and household items; NGO partners will assist in delivery.

• In Ninewa:
o IOM distributed NFI kits to 2,350 families from the Qayyarah Airstrip and Jeddah IDP
o The Rapid Response Mechanism will send 2,000 RRM kits to displaced families, with essential items including drinking water, emergency ready to eat food, and hygiene kits.
o WFP reported that its partners had successfully delivered 4000 Immediate Response Ration parcels to affected areas, in coordination with NGOs and camp management.

• Roads that were flooded and blocked by debris in Shirqat in Salah al-Din hampered delivery of some response items; logistics partners report at least one route to the Qayyarah Airstrip and Jeddah camps is accessible.

VI. Contact

For more information, please contact:

Ms. Hilary Stauffer, Reporting and Communications: staufferh@un.org