CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM EMERGENCY APPEAL: SOUTHEAST ASIA FLOODING EMERGENCY ACCOUNT #6919 for $100,000 SEPTEMBER 18, 2000
OVERALL SITUATION: Since early July, heavy rainstorms have hit Cambodia as well as the entire Mekong watershed area that also includes parts of Vietnam, Thailand and Laos. Rainfall in the watershed area during July was twice the average and arrived more than 45 days earlier than usual seasonal flooding, with the result that most of the crops had not been harvested. In some places, the land was under 2.3 meters of water for weeks before the rains subsided and the land began to drain. In some areas, fields and crops are still covered by water as a second heavy wave of rain and storms swept across Cambodia and the Mekong River watershed as of August 31, causing more serious flooding. The unusually heavy monsoon rains have devastated Cambodia since July, reports CWS Country Director Howard Jost. The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and the Cambodian Red Cross Society (CRC) have exhausted their resource capacity to assist those most in need and respond to the increasing demands as the flooding continues, affecting tens of thousands of people. The flooding has caused extensive damage to roads, bridges, dams and the elaborate systems of water retention and control used for crop production. "River bank erosion along the Mekong has been calamitous as hundreds of meters of shoreline have been washed away, forcing the evacuation of movement of thousands of families," Jost said. "Damage to community and village infrastructure has not been fully assessed as many locations are completely isolated and are still under water. However it is certain that wells and safe water sources have been destroyed or damaged, increasing the potential of outbreaks of waterborne diseases." Meanwhile, reports Skip Dangers of the CWS Vietnam Office, "As the Mekong River system continues to rise to its highest levels in decades, flood emergencies are arising along the entire river's length in areas where inhabitants represent some of the poorest people in Asia." ASSESSMENT: The Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), quoted in a report by OHCA, reports that in Cambodia, 121,000 families have been affected; 82 people have been killed; and some $10 million in rice crop has been destroyed. Immediate needs, according to the International Red Cross, include food and shelter, necessitating replacement or repair of destroyed and damaged homes, household items and sanitation facilities. To date, 13 provinces have been affected by localized flooding and the burst banks of the Mekong River Stung Treng, Kratie, Kompong Cham, Prey Veng, Takeo, Kompong Thom Seam Reap, Koh Kong, Otdar Mean Chey, Svay Rieng, Kandal, Kompot and Preah Vihear. The Municipality of Phnom Penh has also been affected as marginalized families who moved into the city in an attempt to improve their economic conditions, have settled in hazardous river areas which are prone to flooding, 2,335 families or 12,920 individuals, have been relocated to safe areas and many will need to be permanently resettled. 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. It is estimated by the NCDM that 136,940 hectares of crops are destroyed or damaged. Family food reserves are dwindling since families are selling rice for transport or medicines, and food security could become an issue in the future, contributing to the cycle of poverty. In Vietnam, at least three people have been killed; more than 28,000 homes have been flooded and 85 destroyed. Total economic losses amount to $23 million. In addition to the shortage of food, health problems are beginning to emerge as people in the flooded areas are forced to drink the muddy flood waters. The most serious problem in Vietnam is not in the rich rice producing areas of the Mekong Delta but rather in the "Plain of Reeds" where the quality of land is poor, Dangers reports. The "Plain of Reeds" area extends into four provinces, including Long An, the most seriously affected province. Dangers reports that half the area of Long An province is submerged under water and flood waters have reached the highest levels in 40 years. As of September 14, more than 3,000 family/households --some 21,000 people --have had to abandon their homes and evacuate to higher ground. As the flood waters continue to rise, another 10,200 family/households -- more than 70,000 people -- are expected to abandon their homes in the coming days. CWS RESPONSE: CWS Cambodia has already donated $10,000 of blanket funds to the Cambodia Red Cross for distribution in the form of plastic sheets, towels and blankets. "Plastic sheets are a big help for them," Jost said. CWS Cambodia has $40,000 of CWS blanket funds available which will be released if the need continues. CWS is also prepared to continue to make specific grants to the Cambodia Red Cross as needed and may, in conjunction with Lutheran World Service (LWS) become more active in buying and distributing short term rice seed in project locations as the flood water recedes. "This would build on our existing activities in support of food security," Jost said. The International Federation of Red Cross, together with the Vietnam Red Cross are calling for urgent assistance for the flooded areas including Long An province, the site of CWS project work. It is estimated that currently 35,000 people in the Long An area need emergency relief (food, water, shelter, medical care) and this number is expected to rise in the coming days. Church World Service has been working closely with the Long An Provincial Health Service for more than twelve years and over these years, CWS has assisted the Long An Health Service in establishing and developing a rural health network. Over the years, CWS assistance to the "Plain of Reeds" area has included basic medical equipment and basic medicines needed to establish clinics in the more remote villages in the area as well as basic equipment for the district hospitals in the area. Most of these clinics and hospitals in the area are now under water and the staff are struggling to cope with the growing emergency. Most of these clinics and hospitals can now only be reached by boat, Dangers reports. Dangers is currently in the flood-affected areas and is in close contact with CWS partners in the Provincial Health Service in Long An Province. CWS APPEAL REQUEST: For Vietnam, CWS is initially providing $40,000 in blanket funds for the purchase of blankets, plastic sheeting and mosquito nets; it is also seeking $20,000 to assist in the purchase of medical supplies. For Cambodia, CWS is seeking support for the $40,000 in blanket funds available for use by CWS-Cambodia. This is an initial appeal, and may be revised based on further needs assessments. CHURCH WORLD SERVICE, Attn. Southeast Asia Flooding, #6919 for $100,000, P.O. Box 968, Elkhart, IN 46515. Phone pledges or credit card donations: 1-800-297-1516, ext. 222. On-line contributions to: http://www.churchworldservice.org Call the CWS HOTLINE for updates: (800) 297-1516, ext. 111. For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is responding, contact CWS Emergency Response. 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