OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Argentina Floods
4 April 2007


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from UN Resident 
Coordinator Office in Argentina and local media:

SITUATION OVERVIEW

1. The littoral region of Argentina has suffered in the last week an 
unregistered rainfall and has severely affected the provinces of Entre 
Rios and Santa Fe where the floods affected almost 4 million hectares 
and more than 70,000 people.

2. The heavy rain provoked the internal draining canals to overflow, 
turning into street floods, provincial routes interrupted and complete 
neighborhoods under water. At its peak, 3 million hectares were under 
water only in Santa Fe province.

3. In Santa Fe alone, more than 31,000 persons are still living in the 
improvised 215 shelters in schools, churches and hospitals according to 
the Provincial Ministry of Health. In the Province of Entre Rios, 18,000 
persons are still living in tents along the highways. The return home of 
the victims from the floods has slowly begun after the second day 
without rain.

4. The Governor of Santa Fe stated that "the province had undergone the 
most radical climatic phenomenon of the last 100 years, with an average 
of 487mm of rain, and in several places that figure even rose to 500mm, 
when the year average is between 900 and 1,000 mm"

5. This situation, as he stated "affected 59 localities, flooding its 
entire cities between 50 and 100%, whereas 20 were completely 
incommunicado and isolated. During the peak of the rainfall, 35,000 
persons had to be evacuated."

6. In the province of Entre Rios alone, five persons died as consequence 
of the floods prompted by the extreme heavy rains. Some 30.000 persons 
were evacuated. However, the situation is slowly getting to normal since 
the rains have stopped and people are also returning to their homes. 
Nevertheless, authorities are insisting that in many locations the 
situation is still critical.

7. In the capital city of Entre Rios Province, the estimated damage was 
calculated in over 10 million dollars according to its Mayor.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

8. In response to the emergency in the Santa Fe Province, the Civil 
Protection for the Interior Ministry) requested that the White Helmets 
join the Federal System of Emergencies. White Helmets deployed a team of 
three experts in disaster management and another group of specialized 
volunteers to operate in centers of evacuees to provide psycho-social 
assistance.

9. The Ministry of Health and Social Development allocated emergency 
fund to assist those affected by the floods in Santa Fe and Entre Rios. 
Since the beginning of the emergency, the Ministry has also sent several 
food and non-food items to assist the areas affected.

10. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) deployed a 
team of experts to assist the authorities to protect the livestock, 
essential to the livelihood of the communities. The Argentine Government 
has also issued US$334,000 immediately for emergency feed and veterinary 
care for the livestock around Reconquista.

UN RESPONSE

11. As a consequence of this alarming situation the UN Resident 
Coordinator received the request from two Governors from affected 
provinces to help in sudden response assistance. This assistance 
includes mainly medical supplies as well as basic equipment for 
hospitals, food and clothing, and specially material for reconstruction 
to allow people to return to their places of origin.

12. A joint UN team mission (RC Office, UNDP, UNICEF and PAHO/WHO) is 
visiting the areas affected.

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