OCHA Situation Report No. 4 Cambodia - Floods 14 September 2000
Water levels of the Mekong river are continuing to rise. The Cambodian Prime Minister reiterated the Government's appeal for international emergency assistance. UN Disaster Management Team in Cambodia mobilized. OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor arrives Phnom Penh Friday, 15 September. Situation 1. The recent floods are inflicting further damage to rice and other crops as well as infrastructure like roads, bridges, dams and water supply systems in areas that had already been affected by the early monsoon floods end of July / beginning of August. 2. The water levels of the Mekong river in the capital Phnom Penh continued to rise and reached 11.05 m on 14 September, the highest level ever recorded (the maximum so far was 10.93 m in 1996). The Cambodian Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MWRM) warns that the water levels are likely to rise further in the next days. Various areas of the capital are reported to be vulnerable to the rising waters, as well as Road 1, 5, 6A and 11 (Prey Veng to Neak Loeung). 3. The MWRM provided the following information on water levels for today and the next 3 days: Water Level (as of 14 September 2000)** Station Water Water Water Water Warning Level Level Level Level Level 14 Sep 15 Sep 16 Sep 17 Sep Mekong River: - Stung Treng 11.34 10.70 - Kratie 22.45 22.49 22.57 22.69 22.00 - Kg. Cham 15.80 15.82 15.87 15.92 15.20 - Nak Loeng 8.00 8.02 8.04 8.07 7.50 Basack River: - Chhatomouk* 11.05 11.07 11.09 11.11 10.50 - Kah Khel 7.81 7.83 7.85 7.87 7.40 Tonle Sap: - Prek Kdam 9.99 10.05 10.11 10.15 9.50 * Phnom Penh ** Source: Ministry of Water Resources Impact 4. As of 13 September, the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) reports the following impact of the floods: - Districts affected: 76 - Families affected: 121,000 - People affected: 605,000 - People killed: 82 (since mid-July) - Rice crop affected: about 100,000 ha (worth USD 10 million) 5. According to IFRC, the effect on crops and food production is not fully known at this time as much of the land is still covered by water or partially inaccessible. Immediate Needs 6. According to IFRC, the most immediate needs are food and shelter necessitating replacement or repair of destroyed and damaged homes, household items, sanitation facilities and prevention of the spread of waterborne diseases. Public health facilities are also a priority in those communities displaced by the floods or whose personal or community resources have been affected by the flood waters. National Response 7. The Cambodian National Governmental agencies, including NCDM, MWRM and the Ministries of Health, Defence, Transport and Agriculture, have been undertaking all possible measures to cope with the flood situation in close cooperation with the local authorities as well as the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC). A national committee chaired by the MWRM for combating floods has been established on 8 September. On 13 September, the NCDM organized an Emergency Response Group meeting to share the updated information on the flood situation. 8. The NCDM has distributed 425 tons of rice and other relief items to the affected provinces and plans to distribute another 183 tons of rice and additional relief goods. The CRC has also distributed 403 tons of rice and relief supplies such as mosquito nets, diesel, medicines, plastic sheets, household kits etc. and will provide the affected population with a further 286 tons of rice. 9. The NCDM and CRS have completed joint assessments of the damage caused by the initial floods and have begun another series of field trips for new assessments. 10. Further to the previous requests from the Government for international humanitarian assistance, the Cambodian Prime Minister reiterated the appeal to the international community for emergency relief assistance. International Response 11. IFRC launched an Emergency Appeal on 13 September seeking CHF 1,627,172 (approximately USD 974,000) in cash to assist 500,000 beneficiaries for 9 months through provision of household kits, repair of damaged homes and water sources, distribution of mosquito nets and the setting up of health education campaigns to reduce the potential risk of waterborne diseases. 12. The United States has decided to provide USD 25,000 to the American Red Cross to meet immediate relief needs of flood victims. The Japanese Government is considering cash and in-kind contributions. 13. The UN System in Cambodia is closely monitoring the flood situation in consultation with the Cambodian Government. On 13 September, the UN Resident Coordinator convened a Heads of UN agencies meeting to review the flood situation. The UN Disaster Management Team, comprised of UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, WFP and FAO and chaired by the WFP Representative, was activated. 14. WFP has been closely working with the NCDM and the Red Cross Movement to monitor the flood situation and to review information on the impact of the floods, humanitarian assistance activities and needs. 15. OCHA is fielding the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor (RDRA) for Asia to Cambodia. Following her first mission in early August, the RDRA will assist the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Disaster Management Team (UN-DMT) in Phnom Penh to assess the situation and to coordinate the UN system and international response. The RDRA due to arrive in Phnom Penh on Friday, 15 September. OCHA also placed the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team on stand-by for rapid dispatch if the situation warrants it. 16. OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with relevant organizations in the United Nations system. Funds should be transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Cambodia - Floods. OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed. 17. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item. 18. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Ms. S. Metzner-Strack / Mr. R. Mueller / Mr. S. Matsuka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 44 / 31 31 / 40 34 Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 (in NY) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -