Venezuela: Floods Appeal No. 35/99 Situation Report No. 12

Period covered: 1 September - 30 November 2000
Recent flooding in November affected nine states and has hampered the progress of rehabilitation work. Activities in the field of health are continuing with projects initiated at community level. The ERU water unit was closed at the end of September and water and sanitation activities are ongoing despite difficulties incurred as a result of the recent floods. The family latrine project is now making satisfactory progress, the telecommunications project has been completed and a site for the construction of housing for 250 homeless families is currently being identified. Plans are also being developed for the construction of a new branch headquarters in Vargas. A memorandum of understanding between the Venezuelan Red Cross, the Federation and PNS active in the country is under discussion.

Rehabilitation activities under appeal 35/99 will continue next year through the plan of action for appeal 01.31/2001. An annual report on the rehabilitation work will be issued in accordance with standard Federation reporting requirements.

The context

In December 1999, devastating floods and landslides caused up to 30,000 deaths and left tens of thousands homeless in the northern states of Venezuela. Material damage was estimated at USD three billion, with long term economic consequences resulting from the impact on the tourism, fishing and other industries, creating high levels of unemployment. Reconstruction efforts have been underway, but there are still substantial needs to be met before life returns to normal for many of those affected by the disaster.

Almost one year after the disaster, 4,727 families or a total of 19,436 people are still living in temporary shelters, according to statistics from the Fondo Unico Social, a government agency. There are 130 shelters still in operation located in 14 states throughout the country, including 24 in the Federal District of Caracas, 28 in Vargas and 17 in Miranda.

The construction of new houses for those made homeless by the disaster is progressing, with a reported 7,469 homes already completed, and a further 5,841 underway, located in 51 urban settlements in 17 Venezuelan states. However, many of those affected remain reluctant to be relocated, with concerns based mainly on the lack of employment prospects in the interior of the country.

The disaster, the most severe to affect the country in decades, has worsened the situation of many already vulnerable communities in Venezuela. Despite its potential wealth, the country is increasingly affected by poverty, unemployment, violence and insecurity, with a growing gap between rich and poor. Many rural communities live in extreme poverty with no access to safe drinking water or basic health care. While Venezuela has achieved significant long-term advances with regard to health in hospital care, preventive and primary health care facilities remain on a small scale.

Latest events

Following several days of heavy rains in mid-November, a state of emergency was declared in nine states as a result of widespread flooding: Merida, Trujillo, Falcon, Zulia, Carabobo, Aragua, Miranda, Sucre and Vargas. According to the Venezuelan civil defence authorities, three people were killed and several thousands were evacuated from their homes. In the state of Vargas alone, 1,618 people have been made homeless by these latest floods, and are now being housed in three temporary shelters. The floods also had a negative impact on ongoing rehabilitation activities, affecting urban infrastructure and drinking water systems, and causing substantial setbacks to the completion of these works.

Volunteers from the Vargas branch of the Venezuelan Red Cross, headed by the branch’s seven-person relief team, responded to the emergency, assisting with evacuations in the affected areas and subsequently conducting an initial needs assessment in conjunction with the Venezuelan authorities. Provisions and basic supplies were distributed in eight shelters, mostly located in schools, theatres and military centres, where more than 750 families were staying.

The national relief department of the VRC provided support to the Vargas branch through the provision of resources and operational assistance, including volunteers and vehicles. A contingency plan was drawn up and an operations post established in Maiquetia airport.

The Federation delegation and PNS active in the country coordinated closely with the VRC during the week and provided supplies, vehicles, communications equipment and technical support to facilitate implementation of the operation.

Red Cross/Red Crescent action

Health

In September, the health team began providing community health training to Red Cross volunteers. Initial training was provided for 64 of the 109 volunteers identified for training at the branch level (34 in Carabobo and 30 in Vargas) in the areas of primary health care, vector control, epidemiological vigilance, water and sanitation, STDs and HIV/AIDS, and mother and child health. In October, training was provided for the remaining volunteers - 25 in Lara and 20 in Falcon.

During this period, the health project coordinators participated in advanced workshops organized by the Federation, Spanish Red Cross and Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in:

• Project planning and implementation;
• Water and sanitation;
• Introduction to Ministry of Health and Social Welfare programmes;
• Tuberculosis: poverty and technology;
• Cholera;
• HIV/AIDS.

The coordinators undertook their annual planning, establishing objectives in line with the health plan of action, based on which the following activities were developed at the community level:

• Identification of the 10 most vulnerable communities for intervention in each state;
• Application of a baseline analysis tool in 50% of the selected communities;
• Identification of 68 community health promoters in the selected communities;
• Training of 57 health promotors in vector control, epidemiological vigilance and basic first aid, leading to the establishment of 20 local health committees;
• Five primary health care days, attending to 747 people;
• Participative community orientation days in Falcon on latrine construction;
• 259 educational sessions on health promotion, attended by 3,018 people and covering topics such as personal hygiene, dengue, malaria, cholera, dental hygiene, HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancies. A total of 2,559 health promotion leaflets were distributed.
• 309 educational sessions on sanitation, covering topics such as waste disposal, personal and public health, environmental hygiene, and use and maintenance of latrines. 2,814 leaflets were distributed, and a further 185 displayed in prominent locations.

In addition to the activities included in the health plan of action, the Federation health team also assisted in the coordination of the Spanish Red Cross vector control project in the Federal District of Caracas.

Strategic alliances have been established with the local authorities in Carabobo, Falcon, Lara and Vargas in order to disseminate the health plan of action and carry out community micro-projects, the following of which are in the process of being approved:

• Disaster prevention education in schools;
• STD/HIV/AIDS education in schools;
• Community health promoters;
• Dental hygiene;
• Construction of an aquaduct in Vargas state (El Tigrillo);
• Improvement of water and sanitation facilities in two communities in Vargas;
• Latrine construction;
• Control of Chagas disease in the community of Las Palmas (state of Carabobo).

Following the training course for primary health care workers held in August, and attended by 19 representatives from 17 Red Cross branches, in October, 17 health projects were presented (one from each participating branch) to be evaluated in line with criteria established in the training course. These projects will be implemented in the new year.

In November, the following activities were carried out:

• Creation of 10 community health committees;
• Identification and training of 63 community health promoters, through the implementation of 10 workshops covering health promotion, first aid, public health and water and sanitation;
• Two microprojects were formulated in Falcon relating to waste disposal and recycling;
• Six sanitation campaigns were carried out - four in the state of Falcon and two in Carabobo.

A representative from the Swiss Red Cross, which is financing the health project in collaboration with the Swiss Solidarity Chain, visited Venezuela in October. A revision of the health plan and budget was agreed, as well as an extension of the project until the end of June 2001.

Water Distribution and Production

In Vargas, five tankers continued to distribute water up until the end of September, when distributions, ongoing since the initial emergency, were discontinued. Water tanks for community water distribution in both Caraballerda and Anare villages continue to be monitored, and contacts are being maintained with government bodies to ensure that they are filled. Water distribution through temporary gravity fed aqueducts continued in El Caimito, Tarigua, El Caiallao, 27 Julio, St Julian and Blanquita de Perez (Caraballeda). In Anare, the Federation assisted HidroCapital and the community to run a temporary water treatment plan installed by the French Red Cross with approximately 2,000 beneficiaries.

The specialized ERU water unit was closed down at the end of September for water production. The unit was cleaned and maintenance work carried out, prior to being packed into containers and moved to the airport. A list of the necessary spare parts for the unit was drawn up and will be procured via Austrian Red Cross.

The three proposed temporary gravity systems for Vargas, Carmen de Uria, El Tigrillo and Anare have been cancelled to lack of financial resources. However, the aqueduct proposed for El Tigrillo has been selected as a potential future project by Vargas branch.

The heavy rains in November caused severe flash floods in some of the project areas. The main areas affected were Anare, where the temporary water treatment was stopped due to the rupture of a sewage pipe upstream of the intake, and a lack of water treatment chemicals available for treating water adequately. HidroCapital is responsible for running the plant, and efforts are being made to solve the chemical supply problem. The temporary gravity fed aquaduct in Caraballeda was not damaged by the flooding, and after a brief shutdown due to high turbidity, the system was able to resume service. The HidroCapital water supply system in Corapal (restored prior to the floods) was again damaged, and communities have returned to using Oxfam tanks set up in the area.

In Falcon, HidroFalcon will assist in forming a water committee in Macuquita in collaboration with the Falcon branch of the VRC, who will continue with community mobilization activities. As a first step in updating the water system, the community is cleaning the area around the spring collection and also the old pipeline. The technical university in Coro has been approached to assist in a full site survey, and to make the necessary engineering drawings.

In San Joaquim, the Falcon branch assisted the community in installing new piping for their water system, which had been given to the community as a donation by local government during the electoral period. Unfortunately, the required pipe fittings had not been provided. In collaboration with Falcon branch, Hidro Falcon and the technical university in Coro, it is proposed to undertake a more complete technical survey prior to supplying the missing fittings.

An assessment of water supply problems in some areas of the state is being undertaken following the November floods. To date, 1000 boxes of aquetabs and hygiene promotion leaflets have been sent to the local branch for distribution in collaboration with HydroFalcon. Further supplies have also been requested.

In Lara, an assessment was undertaken following the recent floods by a joint Federation/Spanish Red Cross team in Baraquisimeto. The need to set up some 10,000 litre storage tanks is being considered, and discussions have been held with HidroLara to ensure water deliveries by tanker.

In all three states, teams trained in recent basic water and sanitation training courses have participated in assessments following the floods. Where necessary, water purification tablets have been distributed to some families (600 boxes of aquatabs were distributed to communities in Vargas), along with hygiene promotion leaflets on water storage and treatment. Distributions of jerry cans will take place with the participation of local Red Cross volunteers.

Sanitation and Hygiene Promotion

The family latrine programme continues in both Macuquita and San Joaquim (Falcon). All of the required slabs have been completed in both communities, and the pits have been dug. Work has started on the latrine superstructures in both locations, but progress has been slow due to problems with transport for the volunteers, a shortage of funds and motivation at community level. A workshop for "adobes", a local construction technique, has been held in both locations, and organized in collaboration with the technical university of Coro. Further workshops are being considered in other local techniques, such as improved mud roofs. A new project coordinator has been appointed by the Falcon branch of the VRC for the joint health, water and sanitation project. A volunteer has also been appointed as a technical field supervisor, to increase supervisory visits to communities. A dedicated watsan vehicle has also been purchased for the programme with British RC funds and a permanent driver hired to ease transport problems.

The expansion of the family latrine project to other communities has been delayed due to insufficient funds being available for the purchase of digging tools and construction materials.

Hygiene promotion activities are continuing, mainly in Falcon, in support of the latrine programme. A high level of motivation has been achieved both amongst target communities and Red Cross volunteers involved in the programme. A hygiene promotion workshop will be held in Falcon in December, with diagnostic tools and practical exercises undertaken in communities. A puppet show has been designed in Falcon to promote the use of latrines in the communities. It is also planned to use a local artist to adapt educational material to Falcon context. The interactive game "Purita" has also been used in several schools in the Falcon area.

A contribution has been received from the British Red Cross towards the water and sanitation programme for 2000. However, further funds are still needed in particular to promote the use of more participatory methods in hygiene promotion. It is also planned to expand the latrine project to other States, as there is a lot of interest amongst several VRC branches. Currently, the States of Zulia, Carabobo and Lara are being considered as potential new locations. It is also hoped to cooperate with both Spanish and Italian Red Cross Societies in the latrine project.

Telecommunications

The telecommunications project supported by the Federation, Netherlands Red Cross and Colombian Red Cross has now been completed. All of the equipment has been installed, at the VRC headquarters and in selected branches (Falcon, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo, Maracaibo, Nueva Esparta, Tachira, Zulia and Vargas), following delays due in part to difficulties in obtaining government authorizations. A workshop was carried out in early October to train 26 volunteers from the different branches who will be responsible for operating the radio communications equipment. The telecom delegate finished his mission at the end of November.

Reconstruction

The National Society has continued its negotiations with the local authorities of Falcon, Vargas and Miranda states, in order to obtain the donation of a site for the construction of 250 houses for families made homeless by last year’s floods and landslides. It is intended that the houses will be 70 square metres in area, each in a 120 square metre plot of land. The complex will also include a school, clinic and community centre, and will be connected to all urban services. Although the location of the site has still not been identified, other aspects of the project are moving forward. The Federation, in coordination with Spanish Red Cross, has provided technical assistance to the VRC in the planning of this project. Both the Spanish Red Cross and Kuwait Red Crescent have expressed an interest in providing substantial funding towards this project.

The Federation and Italian Red Cross have been assisting in the development of the plans for the new headquarters for the Vargas branch of the VRC. The authorities of the Maquetia international airport have donated the National Society a 500 square metres site for the building, which is strategically located in case of future disaster operations. As part of the project, premises will also be constructed for a future disaster training centre. Various architectural options for the new building are currently being considered.

Institutional Development

With the assistance of the Federation and PNS, the Venezuelan Red Cross has established a national project commission. With the collaboration of the Federation’s regional delegation in Buenos Aires, and with funding from the PNS active in the country, a workshop was held on the identification, formulation and management of projects. The workshop was attended by the presidents of all the branches affected by the disaster of December 1999, the national programme directors of the VRC, and an officer who will be responsible for the identification and formulation of projects. The Federation and PNS agreed to finance the running of the project office for one year.

Support was provided to the National Society in the organization of its National Convention, which took place in Isla Margherita from 8-11 November. The Federation’s head of delegation attended the convention, participating in the different workshops, with observer status in the workshop of the National Committee. The convention agreed the National Society’s plans for the youth, relief, tracing, health and volunteer programmes for 2001, however no consensus was reached on the revision of the society’s Statutes. This issue will now be addressed at an extraordinary meeting of the National Committee at the end of January 2001.

In coordination with the ICRC and the national dissemination department of the VRC, the Federation provided financial and technical support for the national dissemination seminar for the branch presidents and dissemination directors, which took place in the days preceding the convention.

The secretary general of the VRC attended the Federation’s annual leadership course at the Federation Secretariat in Geneva in November. This course, held this year in Spanish, was attended by National Society leaders from throughout Latin America.

Participating National Societies

American Red Cross - The American Red Cross continues to be active in Venezuela, supporting activities in health, agricultural support, and institutional development.

French Red Cross - The French Red Cross is continuing its project to construct 100 houses in the state of Miranda.

Italian Red Cross - The Italian Red Cross (IRC) is supporting three laboratories, restructured and, in some cases reconstructed and equipped, located in Naiguata, Caraballeda and Chaguaramal. A fourth laboratory has been equipped and partly restructed by the IRC in the VRC branch in Coro, Falcon. The laboratory in Caraballeda will be expanded since the number of beneficiaries has far exceeded expectations. Emphasis will be placed on ensuring the self-management of the laboratories in a short period of time, with the support of the VRC as principal partner.

The mobile health brigade, equipped with a vehicle supplied by the IRC, will continue its work until February 2001. The focus of the brigade, in addition to providing medical support, is on the prevention of teenage pregnancies, HIV/AIDS (13 new cases were identified by the brigade through analysis in the laboratories), and hygiene promotion. These activities will be carried out in 12 primary and secondary schools in the state of Miranda. A second mobile brigade, equipped by the IRC, is developing a six month project focusing on disease prevention and health education for vulnerable populations in the zone of Cupira in Miranda.

The IRC is also continuing with monthly food distributions in five states - Vargas, Miranda, Lara, Falcon and Merida - in close collaboration with the VRC.

A school was completely reconstructed and equipped by the IRC, including a kitchen and refectory for the pupils. Extra land has been donated by the local authorities which will be used for growing vegetables.

Spanish Red Cross - The Spanish Red Cross (SRC) is participating in the reconstruction, rehabilitation and equipment of 10 schools in the municipalities of Paez, Pedro Gual, Acevedo and Andres Bello (Miranda), which will benefit 1,470 pupils. In Tacarigua, a local school is being rehabilitated, providing improved kitchen facilities for more than 500 children. In Santa Barbara, work has started on the rehabilitation of a community centre, which will benefit 1,200 people.

The dengue prevention programme is ongoing in the Caracas region, and is due to continue until April 2001. The society is also continuing its support to the provision of clean water systems in Miranda, Falcon and Caracas.

The SRC agricultural support programme, consisting of the provision of tools, seeds and fertilizers to 292 families in Miranda will be concluded in December. A two year agricultural development programme for seven communities, also in Miranda, has been established.

In Barquisimeto, activities are ongoing to provide psycho-social support and assist in the social and professional reinsertion of 180 displaced families.

A disaster preparedness programme is being developed in 120 communities.

Red Cross Coordination

A draft memorandum of understanding between the VRC, the Federation and Participating National Societies active in the country is currently under discussion. The agreement seeks to assure a long term commitment from the Red Cross partners to the implementation of the VRC’s post-disaster rehabilitation plan, through coherent and structured cooperation. A Red Cross consortium will be established, and while the Federation will take the lead in the coordination of the consortium during the initial phase, this role could be assumed by one of the PNS in the future, when the Federation’s involvement in Venezuela has been reduced.

Outstanding needs

The Federation’s appeal for Venezuela has received 82.5% coverage. However, there is an urgent need for the balance of funds to implement essential activities in favour of the most vulnerable under the plan of action for the year 2000. The acute nature of these needs was highlighted during the recent floods and landslides which occurred in November.

External relations - Government/UN/NGOs/Media

During this period, meetings have been held with representatives of PAHO and the EU. A Federation representative also accompanied the French Red Cross to a meeting with the authorities of the housing institute in the state of Miranda. Close relations have been maintained with the Ministry of Health, local authorities and community representatives in the project areas.

Contributions

See Annex 1 for further details.

Conclusion

Meeting the needs of the most vulnerable, principally in the areas of health and water and sanitation remains the priority. The situation for many has worsened as a consequence of the recent rains in November, which destroyed some work already completed in the field of water and sanitation, and delayed community activities within the health programme. The Venezuelan Red Cross authorities have committed themselves to a process of institutional development in accordance with the direction outlined in Strategy 2010, and has requested the technical assistance and support of the Federation in realizing this goal

Santiago Gil
Head
Americas Department

Peter Rees-Gildea
Head
Relationship Management Department