El Salvador Earthquake
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27 February EL SALVADOR: EARTHQUAKE 2001 appeal no. 02/2001 situation report no. 9 period covered: 18 - 25 February 2001 The number of displaced taking refuge in the Cafetalón shleter has risen to 4,375. Current Salvadorean Red Cross (SRC) / Federation plans envisage closure of the shelter on 30 April with the initiation of a return home project. Some 16,595 beneficiaries received assistance during relief distributions carried out between 16 and 25 February. Water and sanitation activities have been reinforced, particularly in Sonsonate and Cojutepeque, badly affected by the 13 February earthquake. With the population continually exposed to seismic activity, psychological support interventions are considered essential and 26 priority communities have been identified. The context A major earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred off the coast of El Salvador on Saturday, 13 January 2001 at 11:33 am local time. The epicentre of the earthquake was some 105 km south-south east of the capital, San Salvador. The earthquake caused major damage in the departments of San Miguel, Santa Ana, La Libertad, La Paz and San Salvador. The most heavily affected area was the neighbourhood of “Las Colinas” in the suburbs of Santa Tecla/Nueva San Salvador, where the earthquake triggered a landslide covering an estimated 400 houses entirely in mud. However, later assessments subsequently revealed a far broader impact as rural areas across the country were severely damaged, resulting in the displacement of whole communities. One month to the day after this earthquake, an aftershock registering 6.6 on the Richter scale struck some 30 km east of San Salvador on the morning of Tuesday, 13 February at 8:22 a.m local time, appeal no. 02/01 situation report no. 9 reducing many rural communities to rubble, killing over 300 persons and causing major damage to water systems. On Saturday, 17 February, at approximately 14.24 hours local time, El Salvador was shaken by a further tremor, the epicentre of which was in the south of the city of San Salvador. The quake measured 5.3 on the Richter scale and caused landslides and damaged more homes. Latest events Another tremor measuring 4.7 on the Richter scale occurred on 24 February with four immediate aftershocks ranging from 3.1 to 3.7. In the early hours of 27 February, a tremor shook El Salvador in the early hours of the morning. These latest tremors have not significantly added to the numbers of casualties or to damage incurred, but the psychological, emotional and social effects on the population are obvious. Schools have been closed indefinitely and the financial impact on families, especially single parents and those dependent on dual incomes, is considerable. The latest figures from the national emergency committee (COEN) combine information relating to the earthquakes of 13 January and 13 February. The population of Cafetalón, having lessened, has now risen again. The state of preparedness of the country for the forthcoming rainy season is a cause for concern. Many communities which are already suffering from shock will become increasingly vulnerable if progress is not made to ensure their welfare during this period. The Federation Secretary General is visiting El Salvador between 25 and 28 February. He visited the Cafetalón shelter and was also able to witness the final distributions under the current phase in San Miguel Tepezontes, San Juan Tepezontes, San Emigdio and Paraiso de Osorio where 1,500 additional families were reached. Dead Injured Victims, Houses Houses Estimated Displaced or destroyed damaged population in need Cafetalon Earthquake T2 315 3,399 252,622 41,302 15,706 4,375 EarthquakeT1 827 4,520 1,160,530 92,080 130,005 TOTAL 1,142 7,919 1,413,152 133,382 145,711 Red Cross/Red Crescent action Objective 1 To meet the basic needs and support the resettlement of the population of the “Cafetalón” macro-shelter As noted, the most recent census shows that the current population of Cafetalón has increased to 4,375 (875 families). During a meeting with the “alcalde” (mayor) last week, 30 April was set as a target date for the closure of the Cafetalón shelter; this target is fully supported by the SRC and the Federation. The plan of action for the return home project detailed in situation report number 7 has been agreed for 500 families. The SRC will be supported in this plan by the Federation and the Spanish Red Cross. The Spanish Red Cross has donated 35 plastic awnings to install communal kitchens; the American Red Cross continues to supply 44,000 litres of water per day and has three brigades specialised in psychological support. In addition, 750 family rations have been provided by the WFP. 2 appeal no. 02/01 situation report no. 9 Objective 2 To provide the basic needs and support the resettlement of 30,000 (11,600 Federation case load) families in the departments of Sonsonate. Ahuachapán, Cuscatlán, San Miguel, San Miguel, Santa Ana, La Paz, Usulután, San Vicente, and San Salvador. - Relief Distribution 18 - 25 February 2001 SRC/Federation support to the 11,600 target families under the revised plan of action has progressed smoothly over the past ten days. A total of nearly fifty SRC/Federation vehicles were in the field at one time completing the humanitarian aid programme. SRC staff and volunteers were supported by nine Federation delegates. Annex II shows details of assistance to 3,019 families (15,095 beneficiaries) reached between 16 and 23 February through SRC/Federation relief distributions. During final distributions under this phase in San Miguel Tepezontes, San Juan Tepezontes, San Emigdio, Paraiso de Osorio, 1,500 additional families were reached. In collaboration with the Federation, the French Red Cross distributed 1,000 hygiene kits in the department of Cuscatlán on 20 February, in line with a new emergency phase following the earthquake of 13 February. The forthcoming period will involve consolidation, planning and procurement for the next phase including shelter kits, in accordance with the appeal. - Logistics & Warehousing: In the SRC, ongoing training and capacity building continues as part of the relief operation. This includes warehouse management, registration and inventory control, as well as training in and upgrading of the information generated from the SUMA. Support as regards airport and customs clearance, transport, storage and warehousing was provided to the French Red Cross which delivered some 76 tons of rice, oil, beans and flour donated by the French company, Carrefour, in Mexico to the SRC central warehouse for distribution by the SRC/Federation in the next phase of the operation. Two water tankers are to be purchased with DFID funding. These tankers will be deployed in El Salvador as long as is needed and will then be returned to the Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) base in Panama for future pan-regional disaster response. - Water & Sanitation: There has been a considerable increase in water and sanitation activities in Sonsonate and Cojutepeque, which were areas affected by the earthquake on 13 February and additional efforts are being made as regards training and hygiene promotion. In Sonsonate, 388 people have been trained in 14 communities. They, in turn, will spread six health messages amongst their communities. A baseline survey has been conducted in order to quantify the effectiveness of the hygiene promotion training. The Sonsonate technical team has spent 10 days in the Cojutepeque region assisting the branch with response to the latest earthquake. Increased water tankering facilities have been provided in all areas covered by the operation. Distribution of hygiene kits continues and some of the affected areas have begun to receive piped water. This will be closely monitored and the tankering of water reduced when possible. In Cojutepeque, the Federation, in coordination with OXFAM, has distributed a total of 250,000 litres of water for an estimated population of 100,800 in 14 communities since the pumping station at Cacahuatl which supplied water to several municipalities in Southern Cuscatlán including Cojutepeque, Candelaria and San Ramón, was badly affected by the earthquake. The Sonsonate technical team assisted the Cojutepeque branch and provided training to erect tanks supplied by OXFAM and connecting tap stands. Activities to date include the following: Installation of 20 tanks and bladders; Installation of 1 x 70,000 litre and 6 x 11,000 litre water tanks, Installation of 1 x 30,000 litre onion tank; Installation of 4 x 10,000 litre; 5 x 5,000 litre and 1 x 2,500 rigid Rotoplas tanks and of 2 x 10,000 bladder tanks. Two people have been trained to manage the fleet of nine water tankers which has been filling the above tanks, the hospital tank, together with tanks and bladders provided by other organisations on a regular basis. Water has also been provided directly to the communities. The fire department tankers continue to fill the 70,000 litre tank in the centre of Cojutepeque. Another filling point has been identified. The feasibility of beginning hygiene promotion in this area is being assessed. American Red 3 appeal no. 02/01 situation report no. 9 Cross water tankering activities continue in Nunalco (Sonsonate) and three 8,000 litre water tankers and six pumps have been supplied to assist in providing water in Cojutepeque. The German Red Cross has provided piping that is being used for tap stand installation and has set up two 10,000 litre bladders in the Cojutepeque municipality, together with three which have been allocated to the SRC branch for future installation. The Spanish Red Cross has centered its activity in the departments of Usulután and San Vicente based on the plan of action of the Salvadorean Red Cross Society.