Nicaragua: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1

HIGHLIGHTS

- Approximately 24,000 people affected in 177 communities.

- Preliminary needs are on water and sanitation sector.

- Main damage caused to housing and road infrastructures (1,972 houses affected and roads 1,314 kilometers of paths and roads).

SITUATION

1. A low pressure system over the Central American Region in the area has led to intense precipitation over the past 12 days, which has caused overflowing of rivers and flooding in several departments in Nicaragua (see map on last page).

2. Approximately 24,000 people affected (5,198 families) in 177 communities in the departments of Estelí, Madriz, Chinandega, León, Managua, Masaya, Granada, Carazo, Rivas, Jinotega and Matagalpa. Some 7,000 people have been evacuated in 77 shelters. 8 people have drowned and 2 another one unaccounted for.

3. 1,972 houses have been damaged, of which 1,936 are semi-destroyed and 33 destroyed entirely. Other infrastructures damaged include: one church, 1,707 latrines, 413 wells contaminated, 22 bridges, 7 public buildings and 1, 314 kilometers of paths and roads and 59 sewage systems.

4. In Matagalpa, low-intensity landslides along the Matagalpa La Dalia road were reported. In the municipality of Matagalpa, potable water service is limited due to the destruction of the distribution network. Water sewage lines were also damaged, which has led to the spillage of sewage into the river. There is a possible contamination of the Río Grande by agricultural chemicals.

5. There have been cases of diarrhea, respiratory infections and headaches in several shelters in Matagalpa.

6. In the agricultural sector, according to data from 15 October, there were corn and bean crops affected nationwide, as much as 4% and 14% of the total, respectively.

7. The most affected departments are Nueva Segovia, Madriz, Estelí, León and Chinandega. In these departments, 9% of corn crops (5,090 lost parcels out of 55,639 cultivated) and 27% of bean crops (13,682 parcels of 50,908 cultivated) were lost. Experts agree that should precipitation continue, the losses could rise significantly.

8. On 22 October the Government of Nicaragua issued and declared a Decree of National Emergency.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

9. The Government of Nicaragua, through SINAPRED, is delivering food, clothing and medical assistance to the affected population. Damage Evaluations and Needs Analysis are being conducted.

10. The Minister of Health (MINSA) in Matagalpa is holding medical consultations, lab exams, specialty consultations, mosquito control, delivery of medicine, fumigation and purification of wells.

11. In Rivas El Astillero, humanitarian supplies are being secured.

12. COMUPRED Matagalpa is working on the rehabilitation of the urban center with supplies of water, clean-up of neighborhoods and man holes. Monitoring continues throughout the country.

13. The government of Nicaragua is carrying out constant consultations with the donor community on this disaster and the President of Nicaragua is meeting with the donor community.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

15. UNICEF PAHO-WHO:

- On Saturday, a mission was carried out to affected areas in order to support the mobilization of Medical Brigades and the Anti-epidemic Fight teams.

- On 21 October, 500 blankets were distributed to the affected community in Matagalpa. Support will be provided to Medical Brigades and the Anti-epidemic Fight teams.

16. WFP is providing technical assistance to the National System of Prevention, Mitigation and Attention to Disasters (SINAPRED) in the calculation of food needs in accord with the affected population.

18. CARE has distributed 1,096 basic food packages valued at US$4,000.

19. ADRA

- Chinandega: Distributed clothing to 900 families, and 8,800 lbs. of food (900 families for 10 days). Some 60% of this aid was distributed in El Viejo, with the remainder in Villanueva and Chinandega. Psychosocial support was provided to more than 100 children in El Viejo and Chinandega municipalities. Aid was provided through medicine in the shelters via the Minister of Health (MINSA) (anti-diarrhea, anti-micotic, respiratory infections, etc.)

- Matagalpa: Prepared a Damage Assessment and provided food aid to 800 people for 10 days (8,800 lbs.) and medicine through MINSA.

- Estelí: Some 50 families sheltered in the Panamá Soberana and Manuel Mongalo schools provided with warm food and clothing.

- There were 80 volunteers activated for the emergency response in Matagalpa, Chinandega and North Atlantic Autonomous Regions (RAAN).

20. Agro Acción Alemana: assisted 900 people with food for 3.5 days in shelters in Villanueva and Somotillo. There were also 4 rolls of 100yds of plastic distributed in San Juan de Limay.

21. Plan Internacional: Chinandega:

- Distributed 1,065 mattresses in shelters, via the Mayor's Office.

- Prepared a damage assessment.

- The goal is to work on rehabilitation in Food Security and Water and Sanitation components.

22. World Vision: Chinandega:

- Posoltega (El Casita) Provided food, medicine, plastic and blankets to 62 families.

- El Sauce and Achuapa will intervene in agricultural rehabilitation.

- El Jicaral Distributed water, food for 7 days, medicine, blankets and plastic for 203 families.

San Fco. Libre: Distributed water, food and medicine to 54 families in shelters. This week (most likely Friday), in coordination with MINSA, purification tablets for water, Mebendazol and Avendazol will be distributed in: Estela (San Nicolás and Trinidad), Matagalpa (San Ramón and San Dionisio), Xolotlán, San Fco Libre, León (El Sauce and Achuapa), Chinandega (Posoltega).

23. USAID/OFDA: has given USD 50,000 to ADRA for emergency Kits (food and non food items) to assist the population affected in Madriz, Matagalpa y Chinandega.

24. Food for Hunger International (FH): to address the immediate needs following this disaster, FH contributed with USD 10,000 to a local partner organization, Accion Medica Cristiana (AMC), to provide food and water for several communities in Betania, Wawa Bum, and Bum Sirpi. Furthermore, since the majority of these families had lost their homes, a portion of the funds donated were used to purchase construction tools and materials. FH donated USD 2,700,000 in medicines to Nicaragua's Ministry of Health to respond to the medical needs in these communities and the entire region.

25. Coordination: UNETE is monitoring through direct contact with the Executive Secretariat of SINAPRED.

IMMEDIATE NEEDS

26. The Executive Secretariat of SINAPRED is preparing a table of priorities for Emergency response.

27. Concerning Water and Sanitation in Matagalpa, the following needs were identified:

- Substitution of chlorine equipment (damaged) in Hospital César Amador of Matagalpa and in Bocana de Paiwas.

- Chlorine treatment systems in Equípulas and another in Muy Muy.

- Chlorine calcium hypochorite at 67% (10 and 25lb sizes) to reinforce hygiene in flooded areas, market areas, clean-up of houses, health units and shelters, to prevent epidemics.

- DPD-1 reactivators and chlorine comparison units so that Brigade Communities and the Water Committee can support the control of residual chlorine and water chlorination.

- Cleaning and protection of water sources (wells, brooks, rivers, streams, springs, etc.)

- Health promotion, in shelters, homes, at the neighborhood-level and in affected communities, schools, work centers, marketplaces.

- Vigilance over residual chlorine in water systems for human consumption in distribution network.

- Maintain constant control of epidemics, with widespread community participation.

- 1,500 mattresses for families in shelters.

- 7,980 corn seeds and 26,576 of beans. Total estimated value at USD 3.25 million to cover the cultivation needs. To date USD1.2 million has been gathered, and a common fund is requesting USD1 million, with a deficit of USD1.05 million.

Map: Nicaragua: Floods (as of 24 Oct 2007) - Location Map

For detailed information please contact:

Contact Details

Desk Officer (New York)
Mr. Ignacio León
Office Tel: +1 917 367-9960
Office Fax: +1 212 963-36 30
E-mail: leoni@un.org

OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Mr. Douglas Reimer
Regional Disaster Response Adviser

Office Tel. +507 317-1748
Office Fax +507 317-1744
Mobile: +507 6676-1689
E-mail: reimer@un.org

Press Contact:

(NY)
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126
Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312
Email: bunker@un.org

(GVA)
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
Office Tel + 41 22 917 26 53

Office Fax + 41 22 917 00 20
E-mail: byrs@un.org