Russian Federation: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2004/0059
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Russian Federation - Floods
21 April 2004

This report is based on information provided by the OCHA Office in Moscow, Russian EMERCOM as well as media reports.

I. SITUATION

1. Floodwaters swept through Siberia (Kemerovo, Altay, and Tomsk oblasts) and South-Ural region (Kourgan oblast) in recent days. Although weather forecast predicted ten days of dry and warm weather, four days of downpour caused the increase of water levels of several rivers by up to 0.5 m related to their critical values.

2. 22 towns and villages with more than 5,000 houses inhabited by 23,529 people have been inundated and ten people have died, as a result of the flooding. 2,445 people had to be relocated from the places of their permanent residence. According to EMERCOM, the flood situation in the south of Siberia is stabilizing, however, 2,860 houses accommodating over 10,000 people still remain flooded.

3. The governor of Kemerovo region estimated the losses incurred by local residents at about USD 25 million (RUB 700-750 million).

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

4. The Minister of EMERCOM went to Siberia on Tuesday, 20 April to establish personal control over response and preventive measures, and consider necessary reconstruction efforts.

5. EMERCOM of Russia together with the regional authorities (1,182 specialists and 405 machinery units) are engaged in the emergency operations to liquidate the consequences of the disaster and to prevent further flooding in the region.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. EMERCOM reported it had enough resources to cope with the situation and international assistance will not be required. No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to date.

7. OCHA is in close contact with the OCHA Office in Moscow, and will revert with further information when available.

8. This situation report, together with further information on other ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

MAP - Russian Federation: Floods - Situation map

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. Dusan Zupka, Ms. Caroline Péguet
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 16 45/18 36

Press contact:
(GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(N.Y.) - Mr. Brian Grogan, direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43