OCHA Situation Report No. 1
China - Floods
12 June 2002


This report is based on the information provided through the UN Resident
Coordinator's Office in Beijing, by the Ministry of Civil Affairs,
Government of China.

Situation

1.  Due to severe storms, there have recently been heavy rains in a large
area of northwestern China. The heavy rains led to mountain floods, mud
slides and flows, causing many casualties and property loss, mainly in the
middle and southern part of Shaanxi, eastern part of Sichuan, western part
of Chongqing, northern part of Hubei and northeastern part of Guizhou.

2.  According to the initial statistics to date, the situation of damage
in the affected areas is as follows: · 23.5 million people affected in
Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hubei, Chongqing and Guizhou · 205 people dead · 317,000
housing units collapsed or damaged · 2.6 million hectares of crops
damaged; 0.8 million hectares of crops totally lost · large number of
animals killed

3.  The situation in the regions affected is as follows:

Shaanxi

- 3.6 million people affected in more than 30 counties
- 152 people dead; 266 missing; 110,000 evacuated to safe places
- 83,000 housing units damaged or destroyed
- Transportation, telecommunication, water conservancy projects, and
  electrical power facilities were severely damaged. Bahe Bridge along
  Longhai Railway collapsed.


Sichuan

- 15.8 million people affected in 52 counties
- 24 people dead; 13 missing; 213,000 evacuated; 62,000 besieged by the
  floodwater
- 31,000 housing units collapsed; 66,000 damaged
- Counties of Nanchong and Suining are most seriously affected.


Hubei

- 1.3 million people affected, mainly in Yichang, Jingzhou, Huanggan,
  Jingmen, Suzhcu, Xiaogan, Wuhan.
- 4 people dead; 59 injured
- 9,400 housing units collapsed; 19,000 damaged


Chongqing

- 2 million people affected in 14 counties
- 3 people dead; 5,799 injured
- 87,600 housing units damaged


Guizhou

- 683,000 people affected in 9 counties
- 22 people dead
- 4,000 housing units collapsed; 20,000 damaged
- County Towns of Suiyang and Meitan were inundated by the floodwaters.


National Response

4.  The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the disaster
response and relief work. Zhu Rongji, the Premier and Simayi Amaiti, the
State Councillor gave urgent instructions regarding relief assistance and
related work. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has sent teams to Shaanxi and
Sichuan to assess the situation, support the victims and guide the
response and relief work.

5.  The Ministry of Civil Affairs and the Ministry of Finance allocated
CNY 8 million (USD 0.97 million) and distributed 1,100 tents to Shaanxi
and Sichuan.


International Response

6.  No request for international assistance has been received by OCHA to
date.

7.  OCHA is in close contact with the office of the United Nations
Resident Coordinator in Beijing and will revert with further information.

8.  This situation report, together with information on other 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:
  Mr. R. Mueller / Ms. S. Desouza / Mr. S. Nakajima
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 31 / 16 36 / 40 34

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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