OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Hungary - 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.

1.  The Hungarian Directorate General for Disaster Management, Ministry of
the Interior, reported to OCHA the following:


General Situation

2.  Due to the unexpected temperature rise and large quantities of
precipitation on 5 March 2001 in the Transcarpathian area of Ukraine, the
Tisza river and its tributaries started to overflow. At the request of the
Ukrainian Civil Protection authorities, the Hungarian authorities
dispatched a special rescue team consisting of personnel and equipment to
the area of Transcarpathia stricken by the flood. To protect the lives of
the population at risk, 3 Hungarian helicopters have taken part in air
rescue operations. In the late afternoon of 6 March, people started to
flee from the Ukrainian border into Hungary.  The town of Mateszalka made
preparations to receive 600 Ukrainian evacuees.

3.  The flood arrived in Hungary, in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county, at
dawn on 6 March.  Because of the extraordinary situation, it was necessary
to withdraw part of the rescue force from Ukraine.

4.  The Hungarian Government, in order to coordinate relief actions and
provide a united control, declared the "Emergency Status"  in
Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg county at 12.00 hours on 6 March.

5.  On 7 March 2001, due to the increase of the flood wave and size of the
flooded area preparations had to be made for the evacuation of more than
10,000 people from 11 settlements in the northern part of Bereg area.


Government Response

6.  To coordinate the emergency action, the Emergency Operation Centre of
the Governmental Coordination Committee has been set up in the National
Directorate for Disaster Management, Ministry of Interior, and a regional
operation centre, at county level, has been activated.

7.  18,094 persons, fully equipped, including water management personnel,
experts from disaster management, civil protection and police, population
and charitable organizations participate in flood-protection activities.

8.  The National Directorate General for Disaster Management directs and
organizes the rescue works in the affected area. Adequate resources are
available for these operations.


International Assistance

9.  The National Directorate General for Disaster Management does not
request international assistance for the elimination of floods-related
hazards.

10.  OCHA is in close contact with national authorities to monitor the
situation and review assistance requirements.

11.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA
Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions
and their corresponding value by item.

12.  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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