OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Iran - Flash floods
22 August 2001


This report is based on information provided by UNDP Iran

Situation

1.  The UN Inter-agency mission (UNDP/UNICEF) visited the worst affected
province of Golestan on 16 and 17 August (OCHA Situation Report No.4
refers).  The total number of people directly affected by the floods in
the province is 217,796, out of which 10,000 are homeless (although close
to 1.2 million people have been directly or indirectly affected by the
floods at varying degree (OCHA Situation Report No.3 para.3 refers)).
387 villages are reported to have been affected and 4,000 buildings have
sustained heavy damage.  The floods have also submerged some 10,000 ha of
forest and pastureland.  Due to water logging, malaria and diarrhoea are
of health concern in the affected areas.  To date, the number of deaths
registered is 214 in Golestan province.  Some 188 people are reportedly
still missing.

2.  The situation in Khorasan and Semnan provinces is yet to be clarified.
Some 10 deaths have been reported in Khorasan province, which brings the
total death toll in three affected provinces some 224.


International Assistance

3.  The UNDP Administrator visited the flood-affected areas in Golestan
province on 21 August, accompanied by the Assistant Administrator and the
Regional Director for Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, and the UN Resident
Coordinator.

4.  The UN Resident Coordinator's Office sent out a letter, describing the
flood situation and addressing the needs, to the local donor community in
order to solicit support for the flood victims.  The Government of Islamic
Republic of Iran indicated to the UN that it welcomes international
assistance on 15 August (OCHA Situation Report No.3 refers).

5.  UNDP Emergency Response Division will provide USD 100,000 from its
TRAC 1.1.3 resources and will field a technical mission to formulate a
rehabilitation plan.  UNDP Iran will allocate USD 50,000 to cover mostly
the mid-term needs.

6.  UNICEF Iran has reallocated USDF 60,000 from its program funds for the
emergency response. The funds will be made available for the provision of
emergency supplies and rehabilitation of health services in Golestan
province.  UNICEF's assistance will be channeled through the Ministry of
Interior and the Ministry of Health.

7.  UNHCR has provided an in-kind contribution to the flood affected
population in Golestan province.  On 17 August, five trucks loaded with
200 family tents and 2,000 plastic tarpaulins arrived in the affected
areas. UNHCR reported that five UNHCR staff based in Mashad accompanying
the trucks are expected to assess the needs of any refugees living in the
province and discuss with the authorities concerning any further
assistance UNHCR may be able to provide for the affected communities.

8.  WFP reported that it conducted an assessment mission in the
flood-affected areas in northeastern Iran.

9.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva,
on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding values by
item.  Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions
to this disaster using the OCHA Standardised Contributions Recording
Format, available electronically on the Financial Tracking System on the
OCHA Internet Website at http:/www.reliefweb.int

10.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be
used for immediate relief assistance, in co-ordination/consultation with
relevant organizations in the United Nations system.  Funds should be
transferred to OCHA account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at
the UBS AG, P.O.  Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference:"OCHA ? Iran
? Flash Floods". OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and
pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds contributed.

11.  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

Focal Points (OCHA Disaster Response Branch):
  Mr. J. Boutroue (Chief, Africa I and the Middle East)
  Ms. T. Ghebremedhin / Ms. Y. Sawada (Desk Officers)
  Direct Tel.  +41 22 917 1438 / 3194 / 1768

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. M. Moulin-Acedo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 60
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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