OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Ukraine - Floods
9 March 2001


Exceptional rain caused severe floods in the river basin region common to
Romania, Ukraine and Hungary.  OCHA is monitoring the situation in close
cooperation with national authorities and UN field offices.

The UNDP office in Kiev transmitted the following information:

General Situation

1.  As a result of severe flooding caused by heavy rainfalls and melting
snow in the western part of Ukraine (Transcarpathia region, at the border
with Hungary and Slovakia), reports of the Government indicated the
following as of 8 March 2001:

- 300,000 people affected - 5 casualties - 19,904 houses partially damaged
- 443 buildings completely destroyed - 35664 persons evacuated from their
homes - 75 villages cut from telecommunication networks - 64 villages with
no access to electricity - 20 bridges damaged - 53 km of roads destroyed -
9 km of railroads destroyed - over 20,000 rescuers and emergency workers
providing assistance to the affected population

2.  The first disaster alert was announced on Monday 5 March. The River
Tisza broke through its dams on Tuesday 6 March 2001. The maximum level of
flooding for this river was expected today after 14.00 local time.


Request for Assistance

3.  On 8 March 2001, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine requested
the embassies of Ukraine in selected countries (European countries, US and
Canada)  and representative missions of Ukraine to the UN, EU and NATO to
approach the international community to complement national efforts for
emergency cash and in-kind assistance to the affected population.


International Assistance

4. As of today, the Government of Hungary provided 3 helicopters for
rescue operations.  UNDP Office in Ukraine is exploring the possibility of
using UNDP emergency funds for humanitarian assistance to the affected
population.  OCHA is considering an emergency cash grant to assist the
affected population.

5. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies
are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at:
http://www.reliefweb.int.


Telephone:  +41-22-917 1234
Fax:  +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers Disaster Response Branch (OCHA):
   Mr Sergio Piazzi and Mr Dusan Zupka 
   Tel: +41 - 22 - 9173518 and Tel: +41 -22 9171645

Press contact:  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53

Internet Website at http:/www.reliefweb.int


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