OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Suriname: Floods
16 May 2006


This situation report is based on information provided by the United 
Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team and the 
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 
(IFRC).

Situation

1. Water levels in some villages in the East are still rising, while in 
the Upper Suriname area the water continues to recede and people are 
returning to their villages. The situation of the displaced in the East 
is serious as, unlike in the upper Suriname area, it is more difficult 
to evacuate to higher grounds. Many villages built on small islands in 
the river are now completely flooded. More rain is expected in the 
southern region in the near future.

Impact

2. According to media reports, thousands of inhabitants of flooded 
settlements in the South have fled to French Guyana and Brazil. The 
Medical Mission (MM) has confirmed an increase in the incidence of 
diarrhea in the Amer-Indian villages of Tepoe and Sipaliwini near the 
Brazilian border.

3. An increase in the number of respiratory infections has been 
reported.

4. Stored rainwater, which is used for drinking, is quickly diminishing. 
A water treatment plant (slow sand filter) in Bendekondre along the 
Upper Suriname River has reportedly been repaired, including the UV 
disinfection installation. However, according to PAHO/WHO, UV 
disinfection is insufficient in emergency situations in which water is 
transported and stored in open containers.

5. PAHO warns that malaria is endemic in the interior of Suriname. 
Malaria prophylaxis and bed netting are recommended for relief workers. 
Also recommended are yellow fever and hepatitis vaccinations.

6. The transport situation is improving. The main road to the south, 
connecting with Atjoni, is being repaired. The Government has reported 
that boat traffic on the rivers has diminished, which is hampering the 
distribution of food and water from main distribution points as well as 
access to medical centres.

7. Many teachers have left the affected areas for Paramaribo. The 
Ministry of Education will try to bring them back to their villages as 
soon as the situation improves. Efforts are being made to continue 
education in the schools that also serve as temporary shelters. The 
Ministry of Health (MoH) is also looking into education options in the 
areas where displaced persons have gone/evacuated.

UNDAC Activities / Findings

8. The UNDAC team concluded three assessment missions. Two were 
conducted by land: one in the Upper Suriname river area with a team of 
the Dutch police and another one in the East with the representative 
from ECHO. The third assessment was done by helicopter with the Ministry 
of Defense in the East of the country.  Visits to a lot of villages in 
the South still remain to be conducted.

9. The UNDAC team has identified logistics, fuel, and safe drinking 
water as outstanding overall priority relief needs. Food, sanitary 
measures for excreta disposal and shelter materials are considered 
additional priorities in the East.

(a). Upper Suriname

10. The most urgent food, water and shelter needs have been met. Current 
needs are for compensation of damaged crops, replacement of damaged food 
stocks, school material, repair of generators, fuel, stocks of 
medicines, repair or replacement of hand tools for woodwork and 
reconstruction of houses. In Djumu, about 75% of the houses are not yet 
inhabited because of wet floors and 70% of the stored food has been 
destroyed. People are staying in other houses. However there is no acute 
food shortage and the electricity supply is working. In Semoissie, 150 
of the 300 houses are flooded. In Botopasie, the Suriname Red Cross 
(SRC) has made a detailed inventory of the damage and needs and 
forwarded it to the NCCR. Not all of the expected food parcels have 
arrived. The medical centre is not functioning well due to a shortage of 
personnel and stocks, and a damaged generator.

(b). East by road

11. In villages along the banks of the Marowijne River, fuel, food, 
medicines, and drinking water are needed. The primary road from 
Paramaribo to Mungo and the secondary road from Mungo to Langatabiki (ca 
100 km) are in good condition. The bridges can be used by medium-size 
trucks. All villages face a shortage of boats and fuel. Most of the 
houses in Nason, Tabiki Ede, and Skintabiki and all houses in Loka-Loka 
have been flooded. In Langatabiki, 5 to10% of the houses have been 
damaged and the medical centre lacks basic drugs. Villagers report a 
need for plastic sheeting. Community leaders are proposing to build two 
barracks on higher ground to serve as temporary shelters.  The school 
has been flooded and is not functional, and the community is setting one 
up in another location. The medical centre in Nason is flooded and not 
functioning. Food is one of the priorities, especially for the small 
proportion of inhabitants who have moved away from their villages to 
higher ground or the forest. The delivery and distribution of food and 
bottled water is well organized, but because the size of families tends 
to range between 5-10 people, the food parcels, which are based on a 
family size of 5, are insufficient for one week.

(c). East by helicopter

12. The helicopter survey in the area along the Marowijne River in 
Stoelmanseiland region has shown that large areas are flooded. The 
region can only be reached by helicopter or boat. Several islands have 
been totally flooded. In some areas, people live in houses totally 
surrounded by water. Many families are temporarily living together in 
improvised shelters on higher grounds. The inhabitants have identified 
sheeting, tarpaulins, food, and fuel as their main priorities. The MM 
network is functioning but running out of medicines. As the medical 
centres are located on higher ground, some are serving as evacuation 
centres. Food parcels have been dropped in the area. The SRC, the army, 
and local NGOs are distributing food by boat. Distributions have 
apparently started on 12 May. The only available water is rain and river 
water. Neither latrines nor water purification systems or tablets are 
available.

National response

13. The delivery of food continues. As of 13 May, 7,277 food packages 
had been delivered in five days. Most affected villages have received 
food parcels, with assistance from the extensive network of local NGOs 
and the local community structures. As people have lost their crops and 
the contents of food parcels only cover the needs of a 5-person family 
for 5 days, there will be a sustained need for food until agricultural 
plots produce again. The contents of the food packages are being 
modified to improve their usability by affected people (given fuel 
constraints) and to improve their nutrient content.  Distribution occurs 
via nine Government nodes in the affected region, and is done based on a 
prioritization system of needs.  The priority area is switching from the 
upper Suriname region to the southern and eastern regions. 
Distribution in the eastern region continues to be difficult. Air drops 
by helicopter are being considered.

14. The Ministry of Health (MOH) has activated five task forces: 
Disease Surveillance, Medical Supply, Water and Sanitation, PR, and 
Quick Response. The MOH is updating its inventory of medical supplies 
and pharmaceuticals; details are forthcoming. Until now, only a shortage 
of Hepatitis A vaccine has been reported.

15.  MM, focal point for Disease Surveillance, began active surveillance 
last weekend. They will report on incidences of respiratory track 
infection, diarrhea, malaria, fever, hepatitis, and paralyses in 
children. MM has an existing agreement with the MOH to provide basic 
health care services and maintain medical records of the interior 
population. A recent MM survey counted 37,000 people in the affected 
areas of the interior of Suriname.  As stated in the previous UNDAC 
report, of the 52 MM clinics, 51 are operational (three of which had to 
relocated to higher ground). According to PAHO, all medical supplies and 
medications have been rescued from the flooded clinics.  All medical 
personnel have been recalled from leave.  MM operates several river 
boats in order to access areas inaccessible by road or air.  A week 
before the flooding began, a child vaccination program, including yellow 
fever, was completed in the eastern part of the affected region 
(information on coverage is pending).

16. A daily medical surveillance system is in place.  A rapid response 
team has been established to do quick epidemic investigations in the 
case of outbreaks.  The biggest constraint is getting to the clinics. 
The national coordination team has requested boats from the local 
population and the military.

17. MM has initiated a health and sanitation public information 
campaign. MM plans to mobilize volunteers for additional outreach for 
malaria, diarrhea, and other water-borne disease prevention.

18. MM is also flying in oral rehydration salts in the east.

International Response

19. The Head of RO Panama has arrived to support the UNDAC team.

20. One Dutch frigate equipped with 5 helicopters, surgical and water 
purification facilities and with capacity to transport cargo will arrive 
on Friday, 19 May. The military will closely cooperate with the UNDAC 
team.

21. A Couglar helicopter from Brazil has arrived. It has capacity for 14 
passengers and 300 kg of cargo. Its first relief assistance and 
assessment mission, including one UNDAC team member, was conducted 
today, 16 May, in the East an water and food have been delivered to 
Stoelmanseiland.

22. Two PAHO/WHO water and sanitation engineers are working with the MM, 
local engineers, and the Suriname Red Cross (SRC) on water and 
sanitation interventions.

23. The IFRC has launched an emergency appeal for USD 706,309 to assist 
4000 families for 5 months. The objective is to provide family food and 
hygiene parcels and plastic sheeting for up to 4000 families (20,000 
people) in the southern and eastern parts of Suriname.

24. At the request of the UNDAC team, IFRC has agreed to facilitate 
coordination of the shelter sector.

25. Six IFRC staff members have arrived, with water-sanitation and 
shelter expertise.

26. The SRC has received 4,000 hygiene kits from the IFRC; distribution 
began yesterday, 15 May. A further 4,000 food parcels from IFRC are 
scheduled for arrival on May 19.

27. The 2,000 blankets, 2,000 stretchers, tarpaulins, and mosquito nets 
that the Dutch Government is sending are to be consigned to the NCCR.

28. A four-member reinforcement team of the NGO MapAction will arrive 
today, 16 May, to increase the mapping capacity of the team that is 
already present.

29. OCHA remains in close contact with the office of the United Nations 
Resident Coordinator and will continue reporting as further information 
is made available.

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

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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