From WEEKLY NEWS 07/00
17 February 2000
Heavy rains in the state of Vargas in
Venezuela has meant that nearly two months after floods and mudslides
killed at least 30,000 people, there is still a state of alert. Eight districts
are accessible by air only while the caving in of part of a highway between
Moron and Coro has isolated the state of Falcon. 24 new landslides and
floods have been recorded in one week alone while a growing lake has built
up above the hills of Caracas because of the debris blocking the rivers.
The Venezuelan Red Cross Society (VRCS), the Federation and other National Societies are continuing to support flood victims with food rations and health care but relief distribution is going more slowly than anticipated mainly because of congestion at the port and on the already damaged roads. However, a second health brigade in Vargas state is now up and running in the city of Miranda and another one may be needed in Punto Fijo in Falcon where there is a high number of Dengue fever cases due to sanitation and water supply problems.
WEEKLY NEWS IS PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL
FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES
17 Chemin des Crêts, Geneva
Tel: (41 22) 730 4222
Fax: (41 22) 733 0395
E-mail: weeklynews@ifrc.org