Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0048
OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Madagascar - Cyclone Eline and Gloria
13 March 2000
Situation
1. The main regions affected are the East, North East, South West and Centre, around the capital Antananarivo. The number of people affected by both cyclones and in need of immediate assistance is around 24,500. However, since certain zones are cut off by flood water, the total affected population in these areas is still being assessed.
2. The UNDP mission report on a surveillance flight over the North-eastern region of Sava on 9 and 10 March informs of 56 people dead, 36 people missing, and 2,400 affected. In certain areas, the water level has gone down and villagers have returned to tending their fields. Three villages on the Akavanana river are isolated and reachable only by boat or helicopter.
International relief efforts
3. The French warship "Jeanne d'Arc" arrived today off the North-eastern coast at Antsiranana. During three days (from 13 to 15 March), helicopters will be carrying out surveillance missions and distributing WFP goods to the cut off zones of Sambava, Andapa and Maroantsetra.
4. UNDP estimates that additional transportation capacity (helicopters, trucks and flat-bottomed boats) will be required for the distribution of relief goods throughout the coming two months.
Coordination
5. A coordination meeting is being held every day under the chairmanship of the Conseil National de Sécurité (CNS) and with the presence of all the partners involved (United Nations system, French cooperation, USAID, European Union, and NGOs). The aim of these meetings is to exchange and up-date information. Two working groups have been established: one deals with logistical aspects, including CNS, WFP and UNICEF, to coordinate the use of means of transport; the second deals with health issues, composed of the CNS, WHO, ICRC and MSF-France, to coordinate assessments in the health and water/sanitation sectors.
Contributions
6. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the immediate relief needs. Funds channeled through OCHA will be spent in co-ordination with the relevant organizations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA Account No. CO-590.160.1 SWIFT-code SBC0CHGG12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA - Madagascar - Cyclone 2000.
7. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated elow, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their corresponding value by item.
8. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int.
Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
In case of emergency only: +41-22-917 20 10
Desk Officers: Mr. Klaus Wiersing/Ms.Y. Sawada,
OCHA Disaster Response Branch, direct Tel.: +41-22-917 22 70 / +41-22-917
17 68
Press contact: Mr.Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org
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