OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Iran - Floods
7 May 2001


Situation

1.  Severe flooding triggered by torrential rains on 6 May 2001 has been
affecting 12 villages in northern parts of Khorasan province in
northeastern Iran, UNDP Iran reported.  Most affected is the village of
Tazeh Qaleh located 40-50 km north of Bojnord city and very close to the
border of Turkmenistan.  In this village, the preliminary report indicates
23 deaths and 50 people injured.  250 houses have been damaged from 20% to
100%.  Flooding caused the loss of more than 1,500 heads of animals and
destroyed around 400 ha of agricultural field.

2.  According to information provided by the Disaster Task Force of the
Ministry of Interior through UNDP Iran, the emergency search and rescue
operation commenced immediately and the government relief workers,
including disciplinary forces, the Iranian Red Crescent Society and
medical teams, reached the affected areas within hours.  Relief items such
as tents, blankets, food and medicine have been distributed to the
affected population and evacuation/relocation of the victims is on-going.

3.  UNDP Iran further reported that the provincial authorities, under the
direction of Deputy Governor-General of Khorasan province and with the
coordination of the provincial Disaster Task Force, are coping with the
emergency drawing upon all locally available resources.  The Disaster Task
Force of the Ministry of Interior is monitoring the situation closely and
will deploy additional resources from neighboring provinces, if needed.

4.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date. OCHA is in contact with UNDP Iran and will revert with further
information when it becomes available.

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


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

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

Focal Points (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. J. Boutroue (Chief, Africa I and the Middle East)
  Ms. Y. Sawada (Desk Officer) direct Tel. +41 22 917 1438/1768

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-91726 53
   (NY)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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