OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Russian Federation - Floods
25 June 2002


This report summarizes information received from the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the Russian Federation and
the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense, Emergencies and
Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of RUSSIA).

Situation

1.  As a result of the heavy rains and floods that hit nine regions within
the Southern Federal District of the Russian Federation over last weekend,
it is reported that to date 53 people have died and some 200 people are
still missing. The most severely affected areas are Stavropol Krai,
Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Krasnodarsky Krai, North Ossetia, and
Kabardino-Balkaria. The floods are believed to have reached their highest
peak, as weather forecasts are predicting that no more heavy rains will
occur in the coming days.

2.  In terms of the impact of the flood, EMERCOM has made available the
following updated facts and figures:

- 195 settlements have been affected (in 49 rayons within nine republics);
- 44,102 houses have been flooded (including 34 administrative buildings),
  3,157 houses have been completely destroyed, and 3,917 houses have been
  damaged;
- 53 people have died;
- 109,806 people have been affected by the floods;
- 69,859 people have been evacuated;
- 16.1 km high pressure gas pipe lines and 47 km middle and low pressure
  gas pipe lines have been damaged;
- 235 bridges have been damaged (188 motor bridges, 43 pedestrian bridges,
  and 4 railway bridges);
- 945 km of road has been damaged;
- 6 km of railway has been damaged;
- 355.9 km of electrical wiring has been damaged;
- 7.6 km of water pipe has been damaged; and
- in 88 settlements electricity has been cut off.



National and International Response

3.  Several NGOs based in Ingushetia, and providing humanitarian aid to
the IDP population in both Ingushetia and Chechnya, will field rapid
assessments to determine the effects of the floods on the population in
Ingushetia and Chechnya. The results of the assessments are expected to be
available shortly.

4.  The Russian Ministry dealing with emergency situations, EMERCOM, has
played a key role over the past few days in providing emergency assistance
to the affected population. In contacts today between EMERCOM and the OCHA
office, EMERCOM expressed its appreciation for assistance offered by OCHA
and other international actors, and underlined that the present flood
situation in the southern parts of the Russian Federation is under
control.

5.  OCHA Headquarters is in close contact with the OCHA Offices in Moscow
and Nazran, and will revert with further information, as it becomes
available. 6.  This situation report and further information on ongoing
emergencies are also available on the OCHA 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.  Dusan Zupka Mr. Ivo Freijsen
  Direct Tel. + 41-22-917 1645
  Direct Tel. + 41-22-917 1695

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


distributed by
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International Disaster Information
Volunteers in Technical Assistance
                                          web: www.cidi.org
                                     listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
comments/suggestions/requests to incident@cidi.org