ReliefWeb

Overview of Current Situation

The USAID/DART reports the following statistics compiled by the governors of the states, Cuerpose de Bomberos, Direcciones Regionales de D.C., the Red Cross, and the universities. These figures do not represent total figures for the disaster:

Federal District of Caracas: 18,300 affected, 92 dead, 4,800 homes affected, and 1,800 homes destroyed

Vargas: 215,000 affected, 198 dead, 40,200 homes affected, and 21,000 homes destroyed

Falcon: 80,160 affected, 3 deaths, 15,000 homes affected, and 539 destroyed

Yaracuy: 1,500 affected, 1 death, 1,600 homes affected, and 539 homes destroyed

Miranda: 44,262 affected, 52 deaths, 8,690 homes affected, and 2,220 homes destroyed

Zulia: 7,200 affected, 1 death, 1,200 homes affected, and 500 homes destroyed

Nueva Esparta: 2,000 affected, 0 deaths, 47 homes affected, and 8 homes destroyed

Anzoategui: reports of 50,800 affected, 2 deaths, 9,600 homes affected, and an unknown number destroyed

The GOV Sub-Secretary of Agriculture reports that approximately 35,000 hectares of farmland remains flooded and, in some areas, up to 60 percent of the harvest has been lost.

According to the GOV, some areas of Miranda are still isolated and require relief assistance.

Humanitarian agencies and GOV officials report that the largest problem related to the disaster continues to be a lack of potable water and the need for health education (related to water/sanitation) in affected areas.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and other members of the health community report that there is currently sufficient medical personnel in country. Hospitals throughout the country are handling the influx of patients; however, two hospitals have been destroyed in Vargas and one hospital remains without water. One of the affected hospitals is a 50-bed hospital. The hospital is intact but all equipment and medical supplies were ruined.

USG Response

USAID
In response to a request from the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, OFDA will deploy at least two health specialists to provide technical advice and support to PAHO.

USAID/OFDA will provide $150,000 toward the UNICEF appeal for Venezuela floods in support of water/sanitation activities.

On December 28, the USAID/OFDA Disaster Assistance Response Team Leader traveled to Miranda with WFP personnel to continue assessments. In Miranda, tourism and agricultural production of cacao, plantain, yuca, and other vegetables are the industries most affected. Sustainable agriculture has also been affected.

The USAID/DART spoke with the Governor of Miranda about the destruction of the El Guapo dam. The governor’s main concern is that 80,000 people in Miranda do not have potable water. The three related concerns are contamination, distribution, and quantity of the water supply.

Jacinto Rodriquez assumed the USAID/OFDA military liaison/logistics functions from Tom Dolan on December 28.

Three USAID/OFDA-funded surface water purification units and two technicians arrived in Caracas on December 26. The units are operating in Macuto, l20 miles east of Caracas. Contaminated water from an existing reservoir is being purified and piped via a functional distribution system. The units are providing 450,000 gallons of purified drinking water per daymeeting the needs of 80,000-100,000 people.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
On December 24, 1999, President Clinton authorized the DoD to draw down $20 million to assist relief operations in Venezuela.

The DoD continues to assist in the evacuation of injured and displaced people, providing personnel, helicopters, C-130s, and relief supplies, including medicines and Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPUs).

International Response

As reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), contributions by donor organizations total over $10 million to date.

The UN system has established an Information Center to plan for and report on the use of donor contributions. It will be operational by December 28.

Local Response

The Venezuelan Civil Defense and the Venezuelan Red Cross are completing a census of shelters. Information regarding shelters and victims is available online at www.rce.gov.ve/rce.

The GOV Ministry of Health is coordinating activities in the affected areas and reinforcing epidemiological surveillance, with teams in shelters to ensure early detection and diagnosis of health problems.

Public Donations Information

USAID Hotline 1-800-872-4373

In the interest of effective coordination of public response, USAID encourages the public to contact directly those private voluntary organizations (PVOs) currently working in the region in order to provide monetary donations or call the USAID hotline at 1-800-872-4373 between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. A list of the PVOs may be obtained from the USAID web site at www.info.usaid.gov. The list is composed of PVOs that are registered with USAID and/or listed by InterAction, a coalition of voluntary humanitarian and development organizations that work overseas; InterAction can be contacted at 1-202-667-8227 x106, or via the Internet at www.interaction.org. Those interested in providing specific technical relief services or commodities should contact Volunteers in Technical Assistance's (VITA) Disaster Information Center for information and guidelines at 703-276-1914.

USAID will not deviate from standard Denton Program procedures for transporting privately-donated relief supplies. USAID will prioritize delivery of essential relief commodities. For more information on the Denton Program, please refer to the USAID website at www.info.usaid.gov/hum_response/pvc/denton.html

For additional information, please access the Natural Disasters section of ReliefWeb at www.reliefweb.int.

Background

Two weeks of unrelenting rain led to flash flooding in northern Venezuela and on December 16, the Government of Venezuela (GOV) declared a State of Emergency for seven states (Zulia, Falcon, Yaracuy, Nueva Esparta, Carabobo, Vargas, and Miranda) and the Federal District of Caracas. The states of Miranda and Vargas were particularly hard hit.

On December 16, 1999, the U.S. Ambassador to Venezeula declared a disaster for flooding. USAID/OFDA responded by providing an initial $25,000 to the U.S. Embassy to be used by the Venezuelan Red Cross and Catholic-Episcopal Conference for local purchase of relief supplies, construction material, and food. USAID/OFDA has provided an additional $350,000 in funding to the U.S. Embassy in Caracas to support relief efforts.

USAID/OFDA dispatched a DART on December 20 to help coordinate response activities and to perform needs assessments. USAID/OFDA provided funding for the purchase and transport of relief supplies and $200,000 in response to a PAHO appeal.

Total U.S. Government Funding to Date

*This level of funding is in addition to the $20 million authorized by President Clinton, which has not yet been obligated.