OCHA Situation Report No. 1
China - Floods
7 June 2005


1. From 31 May to 2 June 2005, there were heavy rains in South China 
from the southeast of Sichuan Province to the east of Zhejiang Province. 
The rainfall exceeded 200mm in 24 hours in western and central parts of 
Hunan Province. Due to the heavy rains, severe flash floods, landslides 
and mud and rock flows occurred in Hunan, Guizhou and Sichuan Provinces.

2. The latest data on casualties and damage indicated by the Government 
is as follows:

- 9.77 million people affected in Hunan, Guandong, Chongqing, Sichuan
   and Guizhou
- 116 persons dead, 63 missing and 300,000 evacuated
- 76,000 housing units collapsed and 234,000 damaged
- 513,000 hectares of crops affected and 87,000 hectares lost
- The direct economic loss is estimated as CNY 3.17 billion (USD 383
   million).


3. The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great 
importance to the disaster. The Vice Premier has given instructions to 
mobilize all resources for rescue and relief work, as well as for 
evacuation and resettlement of the victims.

4. The Hunan provincial government has allocated CNY 5 million (USD 0.6 
million) of emergency relief funds, and distributed 300 tents, 15 tons 
of rice, 1,000 cotton quilts and a large quantity of drinking water to 
the affected areas.  The Guizhou provincial and local governments 
allocated CNY 10.1 million (USD 1.2 million) and distributed 1.75 
million kilos of grain, 2,150 tents, 3,500 quilts and 25,000 pieces of 
clothing.

5. The Ministry of Civil Affairs has enacted the third level of the 
Emergency Response Plan. The Ministry consulted with various ministries 
to coordinate response and relief activities in disaster affected areas.

6. The Red Cross Society of China is distributing relief items such as 
quilts, tents and disinfectant to the families displaced by the floods.

7. OCHA is in close contact with the UNRC's office in Beijing through 
its Regional Disaster Response Advisor's Office in Kobe, and will revert 
with further information as it becomes available. This situation report, 
together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also 
available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Tel. +41-22-917 1234
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. Soichi Nakajima
     Direct Tel. +41-22-917 4034

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3160
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-917 367 5126

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