Honduras - Floods OCHA Situation Report No.7 - Honduras (original) (raw)
Format
Situation Report
Source
Posted
5 Nov 1999
Originally published
5 Nov 1999
Ref: OCHA/GVA - 99/0205
Honduras - Floods
OCHA - Situation Report No.7
5 November 1999
Situation
1. On the 28 October 1999, a tropical disturbance arose in the Caribbean Sea, close to Nicaragua. On 30 October 1999, this phenomenon became tropical storm "Katrina" and later on tropical depression, when entering Honduras.
2. According to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Honduras, this depression brought heavy rains to the north of the country (particularly to the mountainous regions) and moderate rains to the rest of the country. The Departments of Gracias a Dios, Atlantida and Colon, in the North East, were directly affected. Preliminary findings show that five bridges were damaged. The Rivers Aguan and Siline overflowed cutting off the cities of Tocoa and Trujillo.
3. As a result of this situation, some 1,200 persons from the municipalities of Tocoa and Saba were evacuated to temporary shelters (churches, schools, communal centres and temporary transitional housing). An unspecified number of families were also evacuated from Trujillo, Iriona, Sonajera, Santa Rosa de Aguan and Bonito Oriental, on the Atlantic coast.
UN system response
4.The UN Resident Coordinator met with members of the UN Centre for Emergency Operations (CEO) to evaluate the situation and actions to be taken. Field staff of the various UN agencies started assessing the situation and needs in the affected areas in collaboration with local committees and municipal authorities.
5. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) assisted the affected municipalities in the evacuation operations, relocation of families as well as assisting people in returning to their homes. IOM sent prefabricated portable housing (for approximately 300 families) and emergency kits to the areas of greatest risk.
6. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) coordinated activities with the Secretary of Health, to give medical attention to the affected areas. Field staff were despatched to evaluate the magnitude of the situation with a view to implement preventive health and sanitary measures once water levels have receded.
7. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int
Telephone number: + 41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917 2010
Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund, direct tel: + 41-22-917-3299 and
Mr. Carlos Monteiro-Pereira,direct tel: +41-22-917-1383
Contact person for the media: Ms. Elena Ponomareva, direct tel:+41-22-917-2336
Telex 41 42 42 ocha ch
Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.