Peru - Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2003/0025
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Peru - Floods
29 January 2003

Situation

1. According to information provided by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Peru, adverse weather conditions persist in the departments of Puno and Madre de Dios. Consequently, floods along the margins of rivers Choco, Huancané, Huatanaya, Inambari, Ramis, Tambopata, Vilcanota have aggravated.

2. According to the National Meteorological and Hydrological Service of Peru (SENAMHI), precipitation levels registered so far for the month of January are between 32 and 55 per cent higher than normal values for this time of the year. A flooding alert was issued on 28 January 2003 for the departments of Puno, Madre de Dios, Ucayali and Apurimac.

3. Based on preliminary damage assessment, the National Institute of Civil Defense (INDECI) reports the following impact:

4. According to information provided by WHO/PAHO, the Ministry of Health reports two deaths. Based on an initial assessment, the number of affected is approximately 10,400 persons.

National Response

5. On 27 January 2003, the Government declared a state of emergency in the Departments of Puno and Madre de Dios. This measure will allow the Government to access emergency funds necessary to cover relief operations and undertake cleanup work and preventive measures in the affected regions.

6. INDECI has delivered 145 tons of food supplies for the affected population in Puno and 189 tons of relief supplies and two helicopters in support of relief efforts in Madre de Dios. Heavy equipment has been dispatched to clear roads in Puno.

7. According to PAHO, the Ministry of Health has activated its emergency operations committee, which is organizing the provision of medical assistance to the affected population. Rapid intervention brigades have been dispatched to the affected areas to assess damages in the health sector.

8. No request for international assistance has been made by the Government of Peru.

9. OCHA remains in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator in Peru and will revert with further information, as it becomes available.

10. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is 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:
Mr. Erik Haegglund, Mr. Ricardo Mena, Ms. Masayo Kondo
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3299 / 1455 / 1997

Press contact:
(GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.) - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-212-963 87 40