OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Colombia - Galeras Volcano
10 June 2006


This situation report is based on information provided to OCHA by the
office of the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, reports from the
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
as well as from the Colombian Red Cross.

Situation

1.  Since 28 March 2006, the Colombian Institute of Geology and Mining
(INGEOMINAS) has maintained alert level II for Galeras Volcano (likely
eruption in days or weeks).

2.  According to the last census conducted in 2005 by DANE (Departamento
Administrativo Nacional de Estadistica), there are 7,935 people living
in high-risk areas in three municipalities of the Department of Narino:
Pasto (departmental capital), La Florida and Narino.

3.  On 29 May, INGEOMINAS reported a progressive solidification of the
lava dome inside the main crater of the Galeras Volcano and a continued
seismic activity associated with movements of the fluid components of
the volcanic system. Movements of gases inside the volcano are
occasionally producing ash emissions such as the ones occurred in the
Sandona and the Consaca areas (13 km away from the main crater), on 26
May.

4.  According to INGEOMINAS, the overall volume of the lava dome and the
amount of magma inside the volcano are significantly larger than in the
period between 1989 and 1993. It is therefore likely that an eruption
would be superior to the ones recorded during the last 17 years of
monitoring.

Impact / Needs

5.  According to the last report of the Colombian Red Cross (CRC), in
the night of 31 May, 2,587 persons were registered in six temporary
shelters located in the municipality of Pasto. In the municipality of La
Florida, local authorities are building 450 temporary shelters for
approximately 2,000 people, with the support of IOM, WHO/PAHO and Oxfam.
In the village of La Plazuela (in La Florida), 45 persons are sheltered
every night and another group of 190 people have arrived in Bellavista's
temporary shelter (in Narino), on Monday, 5 June.

6.  According to the Local Committee of the Sistema Nacional de
Prevencion y Atencion de Desastres, some returns to the high-risk areas
have been reported in the area of La Florida.

National response

7.  According to the CRC, a total of 1,674 families have received rental
subsidies from the Government for the month of June.

8.  Local authorities are working to improve the quality of the
temporary shelters in order to reach minimum operational standards.

9.  WHO/PAHO continues working with local health personnel. An
epidemiological survey is being conducted in the temporary shelters.
WHO/PAHO is also updating contingency plans in the health sector.

10.  IOM is implementing a project to build 450 houses in the
municipality of La Florida, following the example of the WHO/PAHO
"Vivienda Saludable" model.

International response

11.  OCHA continues supporting the interagency group working in Pasto.
OCHA is promoting an overall coordinated approach to the crisis at
national level, by working in close collaboration with the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, the Sistema Nacional de Prevencion y Atencion de
Desastres and the donor community.

12.  On 23 May, representatives of ECHO, the CRC, the French Red Cross
(FRC) and OCHA, visited the temporary shelters in La Florida, Narino and
Pasto. The objective of this assessment mission was to mobilize
resources for the implementation of an evacuation plan. As a result of
the mission, ECHO decided to allocate approximately Colombian Pesos 520
million, approximately USD 258,000, through DIPECHO, in support of the
evacuation process and the delivery of emergency response in temporary
shelters.

13.  The Spanish Cooperation Agency (AECI) is exploring the possibility
to support the response plan for the improvement of local capacities in
Narino.

14.  On the week starting on 12 June, Oxfam GB will deliver septic water
tanks, motorized water pumps and generators to improve water/sanitation
conditions in La Plazuela's temporary shelter, in La Florida .

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

16.  This situation report, together with additional information on
other ongoing emergencies is also available on 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:
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs (Geneva)
Direct Tel. + 41-22-917 2653

Ms. Stephanie Bunker (New York)
Direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

Mr. Brian Grogan
Direct Tel. +1-212-963 11 43


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