Azerbaijan - Earthquake
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
4 December 2000


General Situation, Disaster Impact and Damage Assessment

1.  A strong earthquake, centered about 25 km into the Caspian Sea and
measuring 7,0 on the Richter Scale, hit Azerbaijan on 25 November 2000.
The aftershocks are still continuing.

2.  As a direct result of the earthquake, 31 people died, of whom 23 due
to stress-induced heart attacks and 3 as the result of a gas explosion.
More than 430 persons are reported to have received medical treatment. 44
injured people are still in hospital, of which 10 are in serious
condition.

3.  No damage was caused to the oil and energy sectors, or to the
transport system. The gas supply was stopped immediately after the shock.
Physical destruction was more visible in private houses and public
buildings.

4.  The State Emergency Commission (SEC) dispatched assessment teams to
the affected areas. As of 29 November 2000, the following are the damages
reported:

- 558 families (2,213 persons) need to be evacuated from severely damaged
houses, as well as 529 IDPs (160 families) from five damaged hostels.

- 73 buildings (houses, hostels, educational institutions, hospitals, and
industrial enterprises) were severely damaged.


5.  In Baku, as of 27 November 2000, 19 families have been evacuated from
three severely damaged houses. Schools have been temporarily closed.


National Response

6.  Following the Presidential Decree of 28 November 2000, the SEC was
provided with an amount of approximately US$ 5.5 million in order to deal
with the consequences of the earthquake. The SEC also convened a meeting
with Heads of UN Agencies and major international relief and development
organisations operating in the country.


International Response

7.  A UN Disaster Management Team, comprised of UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA
and WHO, was established in order to consider opportunities to support the
governmental efforts. OCHA is monitoring the situation in close
cooperation with the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Baku.

8.  The IFRC launched an emergency appeal for international assistance
amounting to US$ 590,000. The IFRC is collaborating with the Azerbaijan
Red Crescent Society in collecting information on the damage.


Assistance Required

9.  The Government of Azerbaijan officially appealed for international
assistance but has not yet issued a list of requirements/needs. According
to the SEC, construction materials, heated tents and financial resources
will be needed to start the reconstruction work and to rehabilitate the
damaged buildings.

10.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA
Geneva, as indicated below, of bilateral relief
missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by item.


11.  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 Officer:  Mr. Dusan Zupka Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1394

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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