OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Russian Federation Floods
18 June 2001


UNDAC Team deploys and commences flood assessments

Situation

In response to a request from the Government of the Russian Federation to
bring to the attention of the international community the situation of the
population affected by floods in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), OCHA
mobilized the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC)
Team.  A four-person UNDAC Team assembled in Moscow on 14 June 2001 and
departed for Yakutsk the same evening, planning to stay in the region
until 20 June 2001.  The Team is led by the Head of the OCHA Office in
Moscow, with members from Estonia, Finland and Switzerland. The UNDAC Team
is accompanied by an EMERCOM staff member, two representatives from Swiss
Disaster Relief and a representative from the United Nations World Food
Programme.  On its return to Moscow, the Team plans to share its findings
with the Russian authorities and the international donor community.
Subsequently, a debriefing will be convened for Permanent Missions in
Geneva.

Since its deployment, the UNDAC team, accompanied by local authorities,
visited affected sites in the Yakutsk region, including Kapitonvka on the
Lena River, 30 km. north of Yakutsk, a number of villages and the town of
Khandiga in Tomponski Ules, as well as the Khangalaski and Megino
Khangalaski regions south of Yakutsk. On Monday 18 June, the Team visited
the town of Lensk and Saldikil (50 km east of Lensk). In all of these
locations, the Team observed massive destruction to houses, infrastructure
and the environment.  In some locations the authorities had been able to
take precautionary measures, enabling the local populations to relocate to
safer grounds with part of their assets prior to the onset of the deluge
of ice and water. However, in most of the visited sites, local residents
had been overwhelmed by the rapid onset of the disaster and have lost as a
consequence most of their property.


National and Local Authority Response

Central and regional authorities at all levels are working tirelessly
around the clock to address the situation.  The Russian Red Cross has
carried out distributions of basic relief items in the most affected areas
in Lensk. In addition, the local authorities have started to make plans to
resettle affected populations on a permanent basis to other regions.


International Response

The IFRC and MSF Belgium have responded in Lensk with basic relief
assistance and primary health care interventions.


Priority Needs

The regional government has indicated three priorities, in particular
given the fact that temperature of ?40oC are only five months away:

Priority 1:  Winterproof shelter for the affected populations;

Priority 2:  Emergency repair of critical infrastructure: e.g.
re-establishment of small electrical lines and water purification plants;
and

Priority 3:  Preventative measures against future floods, i.e. building of
sandbag protection dams.

A more detailed overview of priority areas for assistance will be included
in the final mission report of the UNDAC team.


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

Desk Officers (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Ms. Merete Johansson Tel.+41-22-917 16.94
  Ms. Ivo Freijsen Tel.+41-22-917.16.95

Press contact:
  Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53

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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