OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Guinea - Floods
18 October 2001


United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) deployed

Situation

1.  Following the request for international assistance from the Government
of Guinea on 09 October, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has decided to dispatch an UNDAC team to
Guinea on Thursday 18 October 2001, which is due to complement the locally
planned inter-agency assessment mission.

2.  Major floods have hit many areas of eastern Guinea (Haute Guinée) due
to the overflow of major rivers in August and September. According to
governmental authorities, 9 people have been killed and 220,000 people are
affected persons. More than 20,000 hectares of farmed land ready for the
harvest were washed away.

3.  In order to evaluate the magnitude of the disaster and prepare the
best emergency response, OCHA and the SENAH (National Service for
Humanitarian Action) of the Ministry of Territorial Administration
conducted a first fact-finding mission (Cf Situation Report No1).

4.  However, implications on health, food security, agriculture, education
and infrastructures are not yet quantified thus underlying the urgent
necessity to conduct further assessments in Coordination with the
Government and the UN system in Guinea.

5.  A five-member team sent by OCHA will arrive on 18 October in Conakry.
The team is lead by the Chief of OCHA Environmental Emergencies Section,
Emergency Services Branch.

6.  OCHA has decided to allocate an Emergency Grant of US$ 30.000 for
local purchase of relief items and or logistical support to assist the
affected population. In addition, the Government of Norway is providing an
Emergency Grant of US$ 20.000 through OCHA to assist the local population.

7.  OCHA is in close contact with the OCHA Field Office in Guinea and will
revert with further information, as it becomes available.

8.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 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:
  Ms. Ute Kollies-Cummings / Mr. Max Bonnel
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3948 / 1457

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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