Madagascar - Cyclone "Hudah" OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2000/0075
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Madagascar - Cyclone "Hudah"
6 April 2000

Situation

1. A United Nations assessment team (the UN Resident Coordinator, UNICEF, WFP, FAO along with the National Coordinator for Relief, USAID, MSF-F) flew to the districts of Maroantsetra, Andapa and Antalaha. In the three districts, 308,000 people (of which 61,600 children under five) have been affected. Preliminary estimates put about 100,000 people in need of emergency assistance, including 13,000 children.

Maroantsetra

2. 147,900 people live in the district. It is flooded except the runway and the main street downtown. Most villages are flooded or isolated by water. The team estimated that 75% of the total district population is affected by the cyclone, of which 20% are children under five.

Andapa

3. Flooding occurred to a lesser extent than in Maroantsetra. The total population of the district is 136,000 and the team estimated that 50% of the residents were affected by the cyclone including 20% of children under five.

Antalaha

4. The city of Antalaha with a population of 173,334 people, and surrounding villages were severely damaged. In Antalaha, up to 95% of infrastructure including churches, schools and healthcare centers. The airport terminal and its telecommunication facilities are damaged. It is worth noting, however, that the alert was given ahead of time so that power lines could be shut down. The death toll in the district is 17.

National Response

5. On 5 April, the National Commission for Relief (CNS) held an emergency meeting on the findings of the assessment team. The number of 308,000 as affected people was confirmed. The CNS Coordinator indicated that the Government would deploy troops to help clean-up Antalaha.

International Response

6. The United Nations Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) envisages opening two logistical /operational centers in Antalaha and Maroantsetra to support relief coordination and assistance. WFP will assign one logistician and one programme officer in the UN center in Antalaha and UNICEF a water sanitation officer. In Maroantsetra, WFP will provide a logistician and UNICEF a medical doctor. The UN Resident Coordinator may assign a field relief coordinator for each of the two centers for three months if resources are quickly obtained.

Relief Needs

7. A flash appeal will be issued shortly to address immediate needs for tents, food, blankets, health kits, water purification tablets and building materials.

8. The UN-DMT reiterates the need for two mid-size planes and two light helicopters, to be managed by WFP, on behalf of the United Nations. Four rubber boats (zodiac) are also required to reach the flooded areas (Unit price: USD8,000).

9. Communication equipment and maintenance will be needed to make the above centers operational. Each center would require USD70,000.

10. 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 UBSWCHZ12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA - Madagascar - Cyclone 2000.

11. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their corresponding value by item.

12. 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
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch): Mr. Klaus Wiersing /Ms. A. Carvalho, direct Tel. +41 -22 917 22 70 / +41-22-917 3514

Press contact: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53