OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Colombia: Rainfall/Winter Season
11 May 2006


This situation report is based on information provided to OCHA by the
United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office in Colombia.

Situation

1. The rainy season is affecting all of Colombia, but over the past
several days there has been particularly heavy rainfall in Antioquia,
Choco and western Boyaca.

2. On 2 May, the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental
Studies (IDEAM) issued a communique requesting that the National
Disaster Prevention and Attention System (1) change the alert level
along the Magdalena and Cauca rivers from Yellow (2) to Orange (3). It
also reported that water levels in the Minero (Boyaca), Carare
(Santander) and Atrato (Choco) rivers are rising. The Atrato (Choco) and
Nechi (Antioquia) rivers require permanent surveillance due to the
rising water levels.

3. The National Directorate for Disaster Prevention and Attention (4)
reported 213 events caused by heavy rainfall this year, as follows:


Type of Event - 1 January to 2 May 2006

|------------+-----+------|
| Landslides |  91 |  43% |
|------------+-----+------|
| Flooding   |  92 |  43% |
|------------+-----+------|
| Avalanches |   6 |   3% |
|------------+-----+------|
| Windstorms |  24 |  11% |
|------------+-----+------|
|            | 213 | 100% |
|------------+-----+------|


Impact

4. The rainfall/winter season in Colombia has affected 16,297 households
(79,450 persons) so far, causing 95 deaths, 217 wounded and 15 missing
persons in 134 municipalities and 21 departments. The following table
illustrates the situation:


Puerto Wilches, Santander department

5. OCHA Bucaramanga conducted a mission to Puerto Wilches municipality
in order to monitor the impact of the rainy season in the area. OCHA had
already visited the area on 17 November 2005 and found that the rainy
season had affected some 2,700 families affected (approximately 10,000
people). As a result of last year's floods, a 3km dike was constructed
along the Magdalena River in the area of La Curumata location to prevent
flooding. According to the Mayor's office and the local community, the
dike will not resist rising waters unless it is reinforced. A total of
31 families (110 people) from the rural area of Terraplen are deemed to
be at imminent risk since the water level has already reached the
contention walls.  The entire municipality is at risk of flooding.

Valle del Cauca department

Buenaventura

6. On 2-3 May, OCHA and PAHO/WHO visited the stretch of the Buenaventura
highway that was affected by a mudslide on 12 April (see OCHA Situation
Report No. 2) and found that 141 families (592 people), including 171
persons displaced by violent confrontation, are living in 5 shelters, 3
of which are run by religious institutions. All families have received
food and non-food humanitarian assistance from the local authorities,
the Colombian Red Cross, and the Catholic Church. The main problems
reported are an insufficient number of stoves, cooking pots, cooking
water, poor sanitation and the large presence of insects. Healthcare
assistance was considered insufficient in terms of medical supplies and
vital goods for hospitalized people, including children.

7. The Government of Colombia is looking into the possibility of
relocating the affected households in new housing with the Buenaventura
municipality. The Mayor estimates that the process will take 9 months,
whereas the rental subsidies have been calculated for six months.

Algeria

8. Preliminary information from the Local Committee for Disaster
Prevention and Attention (CLOPAD) of Algeria indicates that 149 families
have been affected by the overflow of three small rivers in the area. No
deaths or wounded have been reported. According to the same source, the
affected households are receiving assistance from local communities.

Choco department

9. The 764 Wounaan indigenous people obliged to flee one month ago due
to FARC activity in their area were affected by the rising of San Juan
River in Istimna municipality, which flooded the 5 temporary shelters in
which they were living. They are suffering from of lack of potable water
(caused by the floods) and overcrowding in the shelters. A child has
died from dehydration.

10. On 4 May, according to preliminary information from the Regional
Committee for Disaster Prevention and Attention (CREPAD) the increase of
the San Juan River water level, in Tado municipality, affected 189
families. Partial destruction of their homes, loss of belongings and
assets and serious damage to crops. The CREPAD will assess the overall
situation with the support of PAHO/WHO.

Boyaca Department

11. The CREPAD has reported that 19 municipalities have been seriously
affected by 15 floods, 8 mud- and landslides, and that 4 bridges have
been destroyed. The local authorities have reported that 350 families
have been affected due to the total or partial destruction of their
homes and the destruction of their crops. All 350 families have received
non-food items and some building materials to repair their homes. The
Ministry of Agriculture will undertake an extensive assessment of damage
to the agricultural production in the coming days.

National Response

12. The IDEAM continues to monitor the weather conditions and is issuing
daily alerts.

13. In all affected areas, the CREPAD and CLOPAD, with support from the
Colombian Red Cross, are supporting the affected population through
distributions of food and non-food items.

14. The local CREPAD are assessing losses and preparing contingency
plans.

15. The health authorities in the affected areas have stepped up their
alert system, increased the number of health personnel in order to
respond to the emergencies and conducted needs assessment missions.

16. The UN system in Colombia is closely monitoring the situation caused
by the rains together with the DGPAD.

17. The UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETE), which comprises IOM,
PAHO/WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF and OCHA, holds weekly meetings to share
information and prepare to respond in case the need arises.

18. PAHO/WHO is working with the health authorities at both national and
local level to strengthen national response capacities.

International response

19. OCHA is in close contact with the Office of the United Nations
Resident Coordinator in Colombia and will revert with further
information as it becomes available.

20. This situation report, together with further information on other
ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int

Footnotes:

(1) Sistema Nacional de Prevencion y Atencion de Desastres (SNPAD)

(2) The persistence and intensity of the rains could provoke river
overflows in days or weeks.

(3) Increasing river water levels and the persistence of the rains cause
situations of imminent risk of floods that would affect populated areas.

(4) Direccion General de Prevencion y Atencion de Desastres (DGPAD):
State entity created in 1989, through Decree 919, in order to ensure the
management and coordination of the entities that are part of the
National Disaster Prevention and Attention System.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officer:
  Ms. Marie Spaak
    E-mail: spaak@un.org
    Direct Tel. +41-22-917 21 63

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26
  NYC - Mr. Brian Grogan, Direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43

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