OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Chad - Floods
11 September 2001


This report is based on information provided by the United Nations
Resident Coordinator's Office in N'Djamena, Chad.


Situation

1. Torrential rains in the past weeks provoked flooding after major rivers
Logone (South), Chari (Center-West) and Batha (Center-East) burst their
banks.  In total, 129,500 people were affected by floods and 100 persons
are reported dead or missing.

2. Most adversely affected areas are the southern regions of Tandjilé,
Logone Occidental, and Logone Oriental, the western region of Banguirmi
and the eastern region of Ouaddai (Dar Sila district).

3. About 10,500 houses are reported to be damaged and several thousand of
domestic animals missing.

4. Because of the floods, the famine situation which was already
prevailing in Chad due to the drought, has worsened particularly in the
above mentioned regions and calls for a significant emergency humanitarian
intervention. No request for international assistance

5. So far, the Government did not officially appeal for international
assistance.



National and international Response

6. The Government expressed its willingness to provide emergency
assistance to the populations affected by the disaster. In order to
identify immediate needs of vulnerable groups, it has decided to carry out
further investigation in the regions affected by the floods, in
collaboration with the UN partners.

7. In that sense, the Permanent Secretary of the national commission for
assistance to disaster affected populations (CONASI) and the Permanent
Secretary of the national crisis management committee (CASAGC) are working
together and should soon compile detailed information relevant to the
Government and partners' response to the crisis.

8. The Minister of Agriculture of Chad held a meeting on 7 September to
inform donors and the United Nations representatives of the current flood
situation.  Eight Ministers attended together with representatives of the
French Cooperation, the European Union, the United States Embassy and UN
agencies.

9. The Minister of Foreign Affairs should soon convene a meeting in the
forthcoming week with the Donors Community for further briefing on the
situation and possible call for assistance. The Government requested that
all partners (Diplomatic missions, UN agencies, International
organisations, Bilateral organisations, NGOs...) should report to their
headquarters on the prevailing disaster.

10. OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used
for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with
relevant organizations in the United Nations system.

11. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in
Chad and will revert with further information, as it becomes available.

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


Telephone: +41-22-917 12 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:
  Mr. Marcel Mikala / Mr. Max Bonnel
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 2729 / 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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