OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Costa Rica - Floods
14 May 2002


Situation

1.  Since 5 May, heavy rains have been causing severe flooding and
displacing thousands of inhabitants from their homes in the provinces of
Limon, Heredia, Cartago, Alajuela.

2.  On 10 May, Costa Rica declared the national state of emergency. The
National Emergency Commission maintains the Red Alert in the :

- province of Heredia: canton of Sarapiqui
- province of Limon: cantons of Siquirres, Matina, Limon Centro y Sur and
  Talamanca
- province of Cartago: canton of Turrialba


3.  The Costa Rican Red Cross estimates that some 4,000 families have been
affected by the flooding in the Valle de La Estrella, Talamanca and
Siquirres in the province of Limon and Sarapiqui in the province of
Heredia.


National Response

4.  The National Emergency Commission has set up temporary shelters and
has also activated the Comites Locales de Prevencion y Atencion de
Emergencias (Local Committees on Disaster Prevention and Response).

5.  On 6 May, the Costa Rican Red Cross distributed food and mattresses to
flood victims in Valle de la Estrella, the area which has been most
severely hit. The National Society has organized the setting up of 29
temporary shelters in coordination with the local authorities. Liaison is
maintained with the Emergency Commission, the Ministry of Health and the
Ministry of Public Security to coordinate and plan assistance initiatives.

6.  The Office of the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Costa Rica
reports that the authorities will carry out needs assessments. Once the
waters have receded, the Comites Locales de Prevencion y Atencion de
Emergencias will undertake this exercise in order to quantify the needs by
sector and elaborate a Plan regulador. The Government will analyze the
mobilization of local resources as well as the possible need for
international assistance in the rehabilitation/reconstruction process.

7.  The Government of Costa Rica has not requested immediate international
relief assistance.

8.  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

Desk Officers:
  Mr. Erik Haegglund, direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99
  Ms. Masayo Kondo, direct Tel. +41-22-917 19 97
  Ms. Federica D'Andreagiovanni, direct Tel. +41-22-917 14 78

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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