ReliefWeb

Geneva, 16 August 1999
Over the past few weeks, ACT Members have been reporting on the extensive inundations across Europe, Asia and even Africa.

AFRICA

Sudan

Sudan Council of Churches informs ACT that heavy rain has been falling since 1 August 1999 causing the relocation of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Wad El-Bashir and El-Salama. Buildings have collapsed and the numbers of homeless have consequently increased. The rain continues in many parts of Khartoum causing ever more suffering and homelessness.

ASIA

China

ACT Member, Amity Foundation reports that in their project areas of Jiangxi, Hunan and Hubei, flood water levels have almost reached the levels of last year and boats are needed to travel. The people are being mobilized to reinforce the dykes and recommence combatting the floods.

Amity Foundation is at present still engaged in rehabilitation projects in the three above mentioned provinces, but is closely following the flood situation and will inform the ACT co-ordinating office should the need arise for intervention.

Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

The monsoon season arrived earlier than the usual mid-August norm in the DPRK this year. Two storms have so far caused extensive flooding - the first torrential rains struck on 25 July, followed by Typhoon Olga on 3 and 4 August.

According to official sources, the first storm of 25 July affected the Pakchon and Unjon Counties of North Pyongan and resulted in the loss of 12 lives, inundation of 40% of the total arable land along with destruction/damage of houses and infrastructure.

Typhoon Olga affected the provinces in the southern part of the county, namely South Hwanghe - Yonan and Baechon counties, North Hwanghe - Kumchon and Tosan counties, Kaesong - all districts, Kangwon - Kosong, Tongchon and Anbyon counties, Pyongyang - Sangwon county, South Pyongan - Hoichang county.

In Kaesong, one of the most affected areas, 600 - 700 mm rain fell over 3 days, 6 people were killed and 94 injured. 39,139 persons were rendered homeless 8,569 homes damaged and 581 homes totally destroyed. There was extensive flooding to agricultural land and various other damage to railways, embankments, pumping stations, houses, etc. Water levels in the Imjin and Ryesong rivers were one to two metres higher than danger level due to high tides.

ACT Co-ordinating Office will consult with Diakonisches Werk on the possible implications for the ACT Appeal ASKP91 which has already been issued.

Philippines

The National Council of Churches, Philippines reports that four days of relentless rains have taken its toll on four regions of Luzon where 63 persons have lost their lives and some 315,401 families or 1,523,306 persons have been affected by floods and landslides.

Residents of at least 1,658 barangays in 145 cities and municipalities of the National Capital Region, Ilocos Region, Central and Southern Luzon have been affected by the floods. 38 individuals have been injured and eight are missing. With their houses submerged in floodwaters, destroyed by the torrents or mud, around 38,466 families have sought temporary shelter at nearby school building and chapels.

Estimated cost of damage to infrastructure is now placed at Ph P 11.5 million. Palay, corn and other crops along with livestock worth P 65.4 million has likewise been devastated. Eight dams (La Mesa, angat, Ambuklao, Binga, Pantabangan, Magat, Ipo and Kalayaan) are still under close watch until water levels go down to the norm.

An appeal is under preparation and will be issued shortly.

Bangladesh (also see Alert 1/99 of 6 July)

ACT Members KOINONIA, Christian Commission for Development in Bangladesh (CCDB) and Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service (RDRS) report that the Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organisation (SPARRSO) and Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (FFWC) of the Bangladesh Water Development Board have predicted a stormy entry for the monsoon season. Many areas are already experiencing a higher than average rainfall with serious flooding in low lying areas as of the beginning of July.

ACT Bangladesh members are co-ordinating with other relevant organisations and will keep the ACT Co-ordinating office informed of any new developments.

Pakistan

Peshawar - on 12 July 1999, 18 people were killed, hundreds were injured and flight schedules were disrupted in cyclone conditions. ACT Member Church World Service, Disaster Response Office, Pakistan has alerted the ACT Co-ordinating office that more rains are expected in the catchment areas which may result in further flooding.

Cambodia (see Alert 1/99 of 5 August)

EUROPE

Hungary

Since autumn 1998, the Republic of Hungary, along with other central/eastern European countries has experienced dramatic weather changes resulting in unexpected and destructive flooding. This change started with an extensive period of rain which caused the rivers Danube, Bodrog, Tisza and its tributaries to overflow resulting in extensive flooding in October 1998 and March 1999. In February 1999, extraordinary snowfalls and subsequent rapid melting of the snow resulted in the inundation of more than 600 thousand hectares of arable land, affecting 21,000 persons in 200 settlements.

As of June 1999, Hungary has again experienced heavy rains causing rivers to overflow and destruction to life, land and property. Nine counties out of nineteen have been severely hit affecting more than 32,000 people in 218 settlements with 4,141 persons displaced and 620 houses collapsed. According to preliminary estimates, the floods have caused USD 133.2 million in damage.

Hungarian Interchurch Aid (HIA) selected two villages (Atany and Hevesvezekény) which were the most seriously affected, and sent two trucks filled with food, hygienic items and antiseptics to a value of USD 6,300. HIA will start soon with dehumidification of the affected brick houses in Atany and Hevesvezekény.

Reports have also been received from the United Nations and the Red Cross about extensive flooding in Iran, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Tajikistan and Romania.

Pending further information, an appeal may be forthcoming.

Thank you for your attention.

For further information please contact:

ACT Co-ordinator, Miriam Lutz (phone ++41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone ++ 41 79 203 6055)
ACT Appeals Officer Neville Pradhan (phone ++41 22 791 60 35 or mobile phone ++41 79 285 29 16)
or
ACT Appeals Officer John Nduna (phone ++41 22 791 60 40)

ACT Web Site address: http://www.act-intl.org