OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Madagascar: Cyclone Indlala
26 March 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This report has been prepared by the UN HC/RC Office in Madagascar, in
close cooperation with the OCHA Regional Office for Southern Africa,
based on information provided by the National Office of Disasters and
Risks Management (BNGRC) of the Government of Madagascar, UN agencies,
IFRC, NGOs and the Red Cross and media reports. SITUATION

1. 10 days after the cyclone Indlala struck several regions of
Madagascar are affected. The most hitten areas throughout the country
have been identified, however not fully been assessed so far.

2. First assessment were delayed by stationary cyclonic conditions until
20th march. The full assessment will not be completed before the end of
the present week due to complicated access conditions. Regions impacted
are: Diana, Sava, Sofia, Analajirofo, Vatovavy-Fitovinany,
Atsimo-Atsinanana.

3. Assessments are being conducted by the Government Bureau National de
Gestion des Risques et Catastrophes with support from the United
Nations, CARE, MEDAIR, MDM, Malagasy as well as French Red Cross PIROI
(Plate Forme d'Intervention Regionale Ocean Indien.)

4. On the 24th March BN GRC reported at least 80 people killed, dozens
of thousands left homeless or deprived of all their belongings. Very
large agricultural areas have been flooded and crops destroyed.

5. Relief operations which started on 18th March continue unabated.

Situation in the 4 affected regions in the North:

6. Region Diana: Ambanja district is the only affected district of the
region. However, large flash flood and exceptional rains have led to
massive destructions in 16 communes (on a total of 23 in the district.)
The total affected population was entirely assessed and is of 143,182
people. This represents 82% of the total population of the district
(172,726). There have been 30 people killed. 29,305 people have been
directly victim of the flash floods and are in direct need for relief.


Victims

|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Village Name |Population|Persons on |%     |
|             |          |need of    |      |
|             |          |assistance |      |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Djangoa      |10192     |4090       |40%   |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Ambaibo      |          |146        |      |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Migioko      |          |958        |      |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Antsaktsaka  |7509      |2771       |37%   |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Ambohimarina |8500      |8398       |100%  |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Bemaneviky   |9633      |5409       |56%   |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Marotolano   |9035      |7533       |83%   |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|
|Total for    |172 726   |29 305     |17%   |
|district     |          |           |      |
|-------------+----------+-----------+------|


Signs of a massive and rapid wave are obvious and a flow of 14 meters
high was reported in Migioka village. Access is still very difficult as
roads have been destroyed or cut by hearth slides. Certain villages are
still totally obstructed by rocks, boulders, mud and uprooted tree
trunks. 2022 houses have been destroyed and 3690 flooded. It is
estimated that 2235 hectares of agricultural land were flooded and
covered with mud and 2148 tons of crops were lost. 11 schools (1178
pupils) are damaged and 1 was totally destroyed. 3 health centres need
rehabilitation.

Access remains difficult and is only possible by small boat until mid
April from Ambanja to Migioka village. Other locations are only
accessible by helicopter.

Response:

A small coordination base was set up in Ambanja.

The BN GRC , with the support of UNICEF has already distributed 500 Kg
of non food relief items (soap, buckets, household equipments?), rice
and drugs in the villages of Ambohimarina and Migioka by pirogues and to
Marotolana and Bemanevika by helicopter. WFP dispatched 2,58 metric tons
of food in the most needy locations. 4 metric tons of rice have already
been provided by the Malagasy government as well as 3,000 USD to ensure
fuel supply and supplementary local purchase of rice. 1 metric ton of
high energy biscuits were also provided by WFP. Cash for work
rehabilitation work was also initiated by FID. As soon as they are
available on the field, WFP will distribute 117.99 mt to 21,500
beneficiaries.

7. Region Sava:

All districts of the region were affected.

District of Antalaha: Total population of district: 277,641

Response: In the first days following the impact of the cyclone, 40
metric tons of water and sanitation equipment, relief equipment and non
food items were swiftly shipped by the PIROI with the support of the
French National Marine to Antalaha. 4 helicopters were used by the
marines to transit the loads to the harbour. 2 supplementary helicopters
were used to conduct first assessments.

District of Sambava: Total population of districts: 308 680

District of Andapa: Total population of districts: 203 047

Full assessments will be released later this week.

8. Region Analajirofo:

District of Maroanstetra is the only affected district. The population
of the district is estimated 200,000. (195,630 in 2002)

Estimation of affected people is 1/3 (60,000) of total population. When
floods have already decreased in Maroanstetra city, villages are still
entirely flooded and access is an issue.

90 percent of the higher valley (north of the city) and surrounding
villages are completely flooded with a minimum of 80 cm of water, since
now two week.

No important damages reported due to the wind, the main devastating is
caused by the floods.

Impact on crop is likely to be very severe. Stagnant water will take
time to drain, and all wells and water sources seem to have been filled
with water, presenting high risk in term of public health.


9 communes have been totally flooded :

|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     No     |Communes        | Fokontany  | Superficie | Population |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     1      |C.U Maroantsetra|     14     |    609     |   24642    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     2      |C.R Ambinanitelo|     15     |    476     |   25715    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     3      |C.R Anjanazana  |     15     |    230     |   10706    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     4      |C.R Ankofa      |     10     |    150     |    9373    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     5      |C.R Andranofotsy|     9      |    150     |   11196    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     6      |C.R Antakotako  |     10     |    200     |   13300    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     7      |C.R Anjahana    |     7      |    120     |   16383    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     8      |C.R Mahalevona  |     6      |    170     |   12875    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
|     9      |C.R Manambolo   |     9      |    400     |   16978    |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|
| POPULATION |       95       |            |   141168   |            |
|   TOTALE   |                |            |            |            |
|------------+----------------+------------+------------+------------|


Today, water is lowering in most of locations. Access is then made even
more difficult.

Response:

1 Civil Protection Corps group of 30, supported by the French
Cooperation, was deployed to support logistics and transports with 2
boats thanks to the French Indian Ocean Action Forces ? FAZOI ? and
their cargo plane. An air bridge was organized to quickly allow the
dispatching of Red Cross, Doctors of the World, Medair equipments.  The
Malagasy Red Cross and the PIROI with 1 Medical Doctor and logistic and
watsan equipment have started clean water production. MEDAIR is also
continuing their water treatment and wells cleaning operations. Doctors
of the World are running mobile clinic with 3 medical doctors and MoH
drugs.

WFP and CARE will start distributing a total of 610 mt of food aid to
some 115,000 people in the northeastern districts of Maroantsetra, and
Antalaha. For now, 300 mt are already on site and will be distributed by
CARE in the District of Maroantsetra. 121 mt are on site and will be
distributed by CARE in Antalaha.

9. Region Sofia:

7 districts ? Only 50% of total region assessed for now. All districts
are affected.

District of Antsohy: Badly affected

District of Port Berger (Boriziny): Badly affected

District of Mampikony:

District Befandriana: Violent winds and badly affected

District of Ananlalava: Not accessible by road

District of Mandristara: Not accessible by road

District of Bealanana: Violent winds, not accessible by road

29 people killed.


Victims : Date 23/03

|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Village Name|Population|Nb      |%  |
|            |          |victims |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Antsohihy   |          |9571    |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Analalava   |          |500     |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Mandritsara |          |1121    |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Port berge  |          |1000    |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Befandriana |          |2250    |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Bealanana   |          |400     |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Mampikony   |          |981     |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|
|Total for   |          |15 822  |   |
|district    |          |        |   |
|------------+----------+--------+---|


Water has already started to drain from the plain. However, damaged road
infrastructures as well as mud and damp soil severely hamper
transportation possibilities.

People say they this one was the biggest flood they have seen since
1959.

There has been 1550 houses destroyed.

44 schools have been badly damaged.

Public infrastructure is seriously damaged: National Roads RN 6, 31, 31A
and 32 are cut in multiple points by landslides, breaches, collapsing,
access to bridges washed away?2 bridges are totally destroyed.

Response:

BNGRC operational base is installed in Antsohihy.

BN GRC is still conducting air assessments until Wednesday with the
support of WFP and by UNICEF and UNDP.

Construction company Colas is conducting a road infrastructures
assessment to evaluate and start rehabilitation of accesses.

The Malagasy governement already shipped 500 kg of rice, tents, water
disinfectant, tarpaulin, mosquito nets, soap and drugs and a financial
support of 2500 USD.

UNICEF / WFP air freights from Majunga to Antohihy to deliver food and
non food supplies.

The stagnant waters in the flood-affected areas are increasing the
potential for outbreaks of Abrovirosis Dengue fever.

10. Situation in the South East:

Large coastal areas are entirely flooded, bridges and roads damaged.

Affected population is hundred of thousands.

BN GRC with WFP are conducting air assessments as no access is possible
until now.

11. Region Vatovavy Fitovinany

In the already flood-affected southeastern districts of Mananjary, and
Nosy Varika, WFP and Agro Action Allemande are already distributing a
total of 691 mt of food aid to 120,000 beneficiaries.

12. Region Atsimo-Atsinanana.

Assessment was conducted in the last 2 days. Water is now only covering
certain paddy fields. WFP will distribute 274.4 mt of food to
approximately 50,000 beneficiaries in Vangaindrano with Catholic Relief
Services.

UNMET NEEDS IN REGIONS

Sofia:

Assessment is currently being completed.

Communication and transportation means (helicopters) will be important
as there are no contacts with affected districts for now.

Food and non food items, school kits, drugs.

Diana:

Drugs, food, seeds to restart agriculture.

Cooking sets, mosquito nets, tents, school kits

OVERALL RESPONSE AND COORDINATION

13. On 20 February 2007, the Malagasy Government launched an appeal to
international solidarity. On 15 March 2007, the United Nations and its
humanitarian partners requested nearly USD 9.6 million to assist the
government in providing aid to people affected by floods and previous
four cyclones for a period up to six months. This appeal will need be
upgraded to integrate Cyclone Indlala's response needs.

14. Response and assessment missions are coordinated by the National
Office of Disasters and Risks Management (BNGRC) of the Government of
Madagascar in partnership with NGOs and UN agencies.

15. USAID OFDA are supporting relief operations with an emergency funds
of 50,000. US $ and support their partner organizations CARE, ADRA and
CRS. OFDA also supported part of the assessments.

16. The Malagasy Red Cross Society (MRCS) has been strengthened by a
disaster management (DM) specialist from the Regional Disaster Response
Team (RDRT) for a period of 6 weeks.

17. Indian Ocean Regional Disaster Response Platform (PIROI) and French
Red Cross are dispatching 40 MT of NFIs and watsan equipment with the
support of the French Army Marine.

18. UNICEF has dispatched 2 full charters of relief items to the North
West regions as well as 6 supplementary emergency staff.

19. UNDP / BCPR allows with its emergency funds the use of air
transportation means to facilitate assessment and coordination.

20. UNFPA: In response to the briefing of the BNGRC on Friday 23rd
March; UNFPA decided to allocate 10,000 US dollars to cover immediate
health and hygienic needs of pregnant women affected in the regions
while an order amounting 50,000 US $ has been processed for emergency
delivery kits to be distributed in health centers. A Mission from the
Humanitarian Unit in Geneva is expected on Monday 26th evening to
coordinate UNFPA response.

21. WFP is also providing food assistance to drought-affected
populations of the South of the country. Some 172,000 people are being
targeted. These operations will end by Mid April. A limited continuation
to 30,000 beneficiaries will follow for families with malnourished
children.

22. OCHA facilitates the coordination of humanitarian response in the
country through deployment of Senior Emergency Coordination Officer.

Resident Coordinator's Office is in close contact with the humanitarian
community in Madagascar and will revert with further information as it
becomes available. This situation report, together with further
information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on at
http://www.reliefweb.int.

Contact details:

Mr. Bouri Sanhouidi, UN Resident Coordinator: + 261 20 22 366 50,
  + 88 16 31 51 9 555 UNDP DRR : + 88 16 31 51 9 556)

Ms Krystyna Bednarska, UN WFP Representative and Chair of the UN Theme
Group on Disaster Prevention and Management: +261 20 22 315 72

Mr. Martin Smith: FAO Representative : + 261 20 22 288 31

Mr. Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative : + 261 33 11 399 36

Dr. Leonard Tapsoba, WHO Representative : + 261 32 03 30 300

Mr. Benoit Kalasa, UNFPA Representative: + 261 22 226 57

Mr. Jeremie Toussaint, Support to coordination, Office of the Resident
Coordinator : + 261 32 074 66 68

Mr. Dusan Zupka, Senior Emergency Coordination Officer, assigned by OCHA
Geneva to Madagascar: + 41 79 477 08 83

This situation report and latest updates on emergencies and financial
contributions are available through ReliefWeb 24 hours per day - as your
tool for timely information sharing, please send your documents and maps
to submit@reliefweb.int

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