OCHA Situation Report No. 3
The Russian Federation - Floods
26 June 2002


This report summarizes information received from the NGO community, ICRC,
UN agencies, representatives of government structures in both Ingushetia
and Chechnya and the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defense,
Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM
of Russia).

Situation

1.  Consecutive days of fine, hot weather have contributed to the
extensive floodwaters and swollen rivers receding to near normal levels.
This may only be a temporary respite as local forecasts have again
predicted heavy rains and thunderstorms in the region through the rest of
this week. Latest figures from EMERCOM and local government structures
indicate that the number of dead has risen to 53, with approximately
70,000 people evacuated and over 100,000 affected in regions across the
North Caucasus.

2.  EMERCOM estimates that approximately 263 population centers have been
directly affected with 4,157 buildings destroyed and 3,917 structures
suffering varying degrees of damage. While EMERCOM and local government
assessments of the North Caucasus are ongoing, damage to local
infrastructure will be heavy.

3.  Those areas most affected are on the northern-most fringes of the
North Caucasus with Krasnodar Kray, Stavropol Kray and Karachay-Cherkessia
taking the brunt of flood damage. Overall impact and damage in Ingushetia,
Chechnya and North Ossetia remain generally moderate with some districts
of Grozny, southern Chechnya and Ingushetia and North Ossetia receiving
heavier damage. To date, fatalities in the three republics remain light
with four deaths reported in Chechnya and four deaths in North
Ossetia-Alania. One 13-year-old boy remains missing in Ingushetia.


National and International response

4.  While the United Nations has not officially received any request for
assistance from the federal government, the Chechen Administration has
requested food and shelter assistance for the most affected areas of
Grozny. A limited number of NGOs have also provided some medical
assistance and non-food commodities to those most affected areas in the
southern and middle regions of Ingushetia.

5.  The OCHA Sub-office in Nazran, Ingushetia has been attempting to
gather and consolidate data from the humanitarian community in addition to
information provided by local EMERCOM and other government sources. This
report will be provided to the humanitarian community shortly so that a
more universal picture of the situation may be obtained.

6.  The UN Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator / Area Security Coordinator
(DHC / ASC) will undertake a mission to Grozny today to liaise with the
Chechen Administration to gain further information on conditions in the
republic.

7.  The ICRC has conducted its own needs assessment in Stavropol Kray in
the towns of Mineralnye Vody and Nevinnomyssk and settlements along the
Kuban River. The ICRC is now responding with non-food assistance to those
most affected in these regions.

8.  OCHA Headquarters is in close contact with OCHA in the Russian
Federation, and will revert with further information, as it becomes
available.

9.  This situation report and further information on ongoing emergences
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


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