Panama: Floods OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2004/178
OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Panama - Floods
1 December 2004
Government requests international assistance
following floods in Darien
Situation
1. Intense rainfall in the upper watershed of the Chucunaque River in the Darien province, starting 16 November 2004, produced progressive flooding in the following rivers: Tuqueza, Membrillo, Chico, Tupiza, Urganti and Chucunaque according to the Emergency Operations Center (COE), of the National System for Civil Protection (SINAPROC). Some 25 communities, most of them indigenous, have been affected by the floods.
2. The United Nations Emergency Technical Team (UNETT - UN Country Team) concluded the impact of the flooding as follows:
- Floods in more than 25 communities
- Watersheds over flooded are Chucunaque, Membrillo, Tuqueza, Chico, Tupiza, and Urgantí
- Latrines and rural aqueducts have been damaged or affected
- Agricultural fields were destroyed and basic staple food and animals were lost
An aerial survey, conducted by two UNETT members and a representative of SINAPROC, confirmed the flooding in the above-mentioned rivers.
4. According to SINAPROC, as of 26 Novembers, 7,698people have been affected and 1,269 housing units have been damaged. Six schools, 1 water Plant, 1 bridge and 1 health post have also been damaged. Part of the Inter-American highway near Yaviza has been severely damaged. Four temporary shelters are in operation in Yaviza and one in El Salto, with some 250 persons in each shelter.
National Response
5. The Government of Panama, through SINAPROC, requested international assistance on 26 November 2004.
6. SINAPROC has evacuated people in risk areas, carried out damage assessments, collected data regarding persons affected and "severely affected" and provided information on the distribution of food, water and supplies. The affected communities organized committees in Yaviza, as they have been trained by PAHO as well as by SINAPROC with the support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), for emergency and response preparedness.
7. The Ministry of Health has sent a number of missions to the different affected communities to evaluate the health situation. Local authorities have been coordinating actions with the central government. The Mayor of Pinogana, the Governor and the Head of the Local Council have been coordinating the local response and distribution of donations.
8. The National Police supports the collection and distribution of donations. The First Lady's Office maintains a facility center in Panama City, for sorting and distribution of food, water and supplies and other donations for those affected in Darien.
9. The Panamanian Red Cross Society provided support through the local setup and supplies.
International Response
10. OCHA has released an emergency cash grant of USD 20,000 from the Norwegian Grant Reserve, one of the prepositioned funds administered by OCHA for the purchase of relief items.
11. Two UNETT missions were fielded in the affected area. The first mission (the United Nations Children's Fund/UNICEF, the World Health Organization/WHO/Pan American health Organization/PAHO and the national water and sanitation expert of the UNICEF Regional Office) visited the Yaviza area on 26 November. They concluded that sanitary problems (solid and fecal wastes and vectors) could appear once the water recedes. UNICEF provided oral re-hydration salts, chlorine tablets, and collapsible water jars.
12. The second mission (the United Nations National Security Officer, a UNDP staff, the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor/RDRA based in Panama and the Head of COE) visited affected indigenous areas, observing a complete flooded town, El Salto, whose population voluntarily had evacuated, to the nearest higher town. They also visited another community, where they provided a portable water plant sent by SINAPROC. The mission also assisted the transportation of 18 staff of the Ministry of Health by helicopter, to affected locations.
13. Both missions and the national authorities confirmed that severe food shortages would occur in the next seven to eight months owing to the loss of crops and animals. Sanitary conditions will be highly vulnerable in the coming days as water recedes. Actions to reduce contamination of affected infrastructure and housings must be taken immediately.
Relief Needs
14. So far, the following items are identified as priority needs: food and water, fuel with lubricants, hammocks, 'clorox' (for water purification), plastic kitchen utensils, portable latrines, and the repair of rural aqueducts.
15. OCHA is in close contact with the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Panama and will revert with further information as it becomes available.
16. 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
MAP - Panama: Floods - Situation map
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