OCHA Situation Report No. 4 Madagascar - Cyclone "Hudah" 13 April 2000
The OCHA Support Team in Antananarivo, which is assisting the UNDP Office, reports that: 1. Since 10 April (OCHA Sitrep No. 3/"Flash Appeal"), the team has participated in coordination meetings in Antananarivo between UNDP and the European Union, United Nations Agencies, the World Bank and various donor representatives (Germany, Japan, United Kingdom, United States of America, etc), as well as in meetings with local authorities (CHS, CRIC). 2. The OCHA spokesperson took part in a field mission with WFP and CNN, during which the cities of Maroantsetra and Antalaha were overflown (because of bad weather, it was not possible to reach Anadapa, as initially foreseen). Situation District of Antalaha: 3. According to the OCHA spokesperson, Antalaha appears to be the most affected district. Along a radius of 40 km, there is total destruction. Uprooted trees are scattered all around. Plantations of vanilla, coffee and cloves are badly damaged. This will have a great impact on vanilla export, which is the main source of income in this region. 4. There is a serious concern as to the health situation, due to the lack of pure water and the hygienic conditions. In Sambava (80 km from Anatalaha), 13 cases of cholera were reported. Region of Maroantsetra: 5. In Maroantsetra, huts and bungalows have been destroyed and the rice paddies are flooded with seawater. However, vegetation has not been destroyed. The water level is dropping. The airstrip, no longer inundated, has been cleaned. Farmers are working towards the reconstruction of their houses/huts and their plantations. National response: 6. At the request of the UNDP Resident Representative, and in support to the Malgasy Government, a coordination team consisting of one UNDP and two OCHA staff members has left today for Maroantsetra. The team will assist in the establishment of a logistic/coordination center (top priority) at Maroantsetra, under the leadership of the Government and in coordination with local authorities, NGOs and UN Agencies. A WFP logistician is already on site. An UNICEF doctor should arrive, possibly on Friday. UNICEF has identified a person to take over the function of UN Coordinator in the center. 7. CNS is also establishing a logistics center in Antalaha, with the support of WFP in the capacity of UN Coordinator. It has established several commissions dealing with logistics, health, evaluation and follow-up. 8. Government authorities restored the water connection in the area of Antalaha a few days after the disaster. The electricity supply is expected to be restored in the coming days. The port of Antalaha is being cleared, and seems accessible in spite of the debris on the shore. The road Antalaha - Sambava is being cleaned with the help of Malgasy military. 9. The supervisors of the CNS evaluation expert team (funded by UNICEF, UNDP and WFP), left for the disaster area (Anatalaha, Maroantsetra, Anadapa) on 12 April (postponed departure due to maintenance of the aircraft). It is estimated that the team will finish their evaluation in 5-6 days, after meetings with the local authorities and populations, and that the results will be available at the beginning of next week. 10. A seven-truck CNS convoy left in the evening of 10 April for Tamatave with 300 pieces of sheet metal, blankets, soap, plastic sheeting and 4 WHO cholera kits, for onward distribution to Antalaha, Maroantsetra, Andapa and Sambava. International response: 11. 45 tons of food should have arrived in Maroantsetra by boat. The French Transall did two rotations on 11 April, for a total of 11 tons, of which 6 tons are of food. WFP would like to give priority to sea shipment of food and envisages renting a boat with higher capacity (100 -150 tons) for 2 or 3 rotations. 12. WFP is delivering 100 tons of rice by road from Tulear to Tamatave (3-day trip). 13. WFP/FAO are to carry out a 3-person mission to the center and north to quantify impact on agriculture and the food situation, for a duration of 3 to 4 weeks, in support of the Ministry of Agriculture. 14. ILO has put at the disposal of the CNS a team of 2 anti-cyclone specialists for infrastructure evaluation. 15. The World Bank and the BAD (Banque Africaine de developpement) are also launching a damage assessment mission to study the post-cyclone rehabilitation needs. Starting today, it is expected to last three weeks and will cover 5 affected districts. The methodology used will be the same as that in Mozambique. Based on the findings of the team, an appraisal mission is foreseen for early to mid May. 16. A representative of the United States in Antananarivo informed UNDP that his government would agree to the extension of the two US helicopters already put at disposal of the CNS, as well as to the provision of a third helicopter and 4 Zodiaks. 17. Information on contributions is often reaching OCHA from multiple sources. Therefore, in order to avoid duplications/omissions and subsequently to allow for accurate contribution tracking and coordination, donors are strongly urged to verify the contributions and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions as required, using the form provided. 18. OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the immediate relief needs. Funds channeled through OCHA will be spent in co-ordination with the relevant organizations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA Account No. CO-590.160.1 SWIFT-code UBSWCHZ12A - at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, with reference: OCHA - Madagascar - Floods 2000. 19. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on the OCHA Internet Website (http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardized Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above mentioned Financial Tracking Website. 20. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int. In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch): Mr. Klaus Wiersing /Ms. A. Carvalho, Tel. direct +41-22 917 22 70 / +41-22-917 3514 Focal Point for media: Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, Tel direct. +41-22-917 26 53 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org appeal fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Southern Africa - http://www.vita.org/humanitarian/safrica