Disaster Overview Key Priorities
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Briefing Package - Flash Floods Comoros Briefing Package Event: Flash Floods Location: Comoros Prepared by: ACAPS Date: 2012/04/28 Due to the scarcity of publically available reports on the impact of the current floods, this document is mainly based on pre-disaster secondary data and provides a snapshot of relevant information as of the 28 of April 2012. Needs analysis should be undertaken at the field level as more in crisis information becomes available and comparison with pre-disaster information becomes feasible. Disaster overview Since 20 April 2012, the whole territory of the Union of Comoros has been hit by torrential rains which caused heavy floods as well as landslides and rockslides. The president of the national assembly has appealed to the international community and partners for support (GoC 2012/04/26). Regions of Hambu, Bambao, Mbadjini-East, and Dimani (in Great Comores), Domoni, Sima (in Anjouan) and all regions of Mohéli have been affected (GoC 2012/04/26). In Anjouan, the heavy rains affected only infrastructures (Malango Actualités 27/04). The Government declared the Key priorities three main islands as disaster zones (GoC 2012/04/26). The main regions affected are: Bambao, Hambou, Initial assessments reported that around 46,000 were Mbadjini Est (east) on Grande-Comores Island; Sima affected and 9,200 people were left homeless and Domoni on Anjouan Island and Nioumachioi and (Malango Actualités 27/04). 9.388 households were Hoani on the autonomous Island of Mohéli. identified as affected. The table below summarized Priority groups are population displaced to relocation the collected figures (UN Flash flood sitrep centres or hosted by relatives, as well as (non- 2012/04/28). Location of the affected population was displaced) affected population. not specified: Sectors requiring immediate assistance are Water Sanitation, Hygiene, food, shelter, education and Affected group Number communications. Total affected population 46,139 Number of person without shelter 9,228 Priority interventions Women 23,116 Assessing needs in affected communities and of the Pregnant women 2,307 < 5 years old 8,305 different affected groups (affected population, displaced people in host communities or in relocation Number of villages affected just keeps climbing (AFP, centres). 2012/04/26). The continuous rains may lead to more Providing health care and medical assistance to displacements and shelter needs (UN Flash flood injured people. To prevent the escalation of cases of sitrep 2012/04/28). malaria, cholera and other transmissible diseases The Vouvouni village in the Bambao region is entirely among flood victims. To reduce the risk of vector flooded. The situation is extremely serious for its transmission, water-borne diseases, acute three thousand inhabitants (Sécurité civile respiratory illnesses and cases of measles among 2012/04/26). On Thursday evening Vouvouni was children in the affected areas. partly evacuated. After a first reception at Cosep, the Urgent rehabilitation of community infrastructure, majority of families have been hosted in the Itsandra water supply network and dwellings. and Bambao regions (Comores-droit, 27/04). One Providing temporary shelters for displaced hundred twenty seven boarding-students of the Ibn communities and support to host communities. Khaldoun orphanage in Vouvouni have been Improving logistic access to remote communities as evacuated in Bandamadji Itsandra (Sécurité civile well as restoring communications. 2012/04/26). Food, water and relief items distributions For both Affected people are currently staying in relocation displaced and non-displaced affected population and centres and some are living with their relatives (UN host families ( needs assessment based) Flash flood sitrep 2012/04/28). Providing electricity in communities were power was Due to lack of access, schools have been cut off and cut off. some pupils do not have access to education Temporary schools and recreational kits for affected facilities (UN Flash flood sitrep 2012/04/28). children. 1 Briefing Package - Flash Floods Comoros Constraints Very few information (1 UN sitrep, 2 newspaper stories and 2 government declarations) are available Humanitarian assistance efforts are hampered on the current crisis impact. because of road blockages. Landslides are reported in Anjouan (AFP, 2012/04/26). Information needs Access to remote villages and affected areas remain Basic mapping of affected areas should be provided extremely difficult: the roads are flooded or ASAP as well as figures (confirmed by local reports, inaccessible, telephone lines are cut off, and estimated or projected) of affected population electricity supply is affected. Communications to most A “Survey of survey” (mapping of ongoing and affected areas is currently not possible since planned assessment). Areas without report should be telephone lines have been affected (UN Flash flood mapped sitrep 2012/04/28). Available relief stocks Even in normal times, the absence and the bad Mapping of accessible and inaccessible areas (road conditions of roads and tracks penalise Comorian networks, dike, bridges, etc.) producers who cannot easily commercialise their Further assessments should focus on estimation of products (AFDB 2009). crop damaged and cattle/livestock loss Apart from lack of access to affected areas, there is Lessons learnt, assessment reports and experience no human capacity for response. There is a need for from the 2009 floods (or any other recent flood technical support in coordination, data collection and episode) should be gathered and analyzed to identify data management (UN Flash flood sitrep best practices. 2012/04/28). An assessment form from the 2007 Comoros contingency plan is attached to this document as well as On-going and planned needs assessments a rapid assessment form from Madagascar 2011. Adapt as necessary before to use. An initial rapid assessment was carried out by the National Government through the Directorate General of Civil Defence in collaboration with the UN Demographic profile UNDP 2010 System and the Comoran Red Crescent. UNICEF, WFP and OCHA Regional Office for The islands are divided into Southern Africa are deploying staff to Comoros to prefectures. Anjouan has 5, conduct further assessment to affected areas to Grande Comore 8 and support the Resident Coordinator. Mohéli 3 (UNDP 2010). The total population is esti- mated at 737.000 in- Information gaps and needs habitants in 2012 (ac- cording to projections Most recent representative survey for Comoros is the based on data from RGPH 2004 “Enquete integrée des ménages”. Last 2003). It is changing relati- Demographic and Health survey is from 1996, last vely rapidly with an average MICS from 2000, last census from 2003. To annual growth rate of 2.1%. summarize, there is no current reliable baseline The average density is 269 information in Comoros. Any “denominator” should be inhabitants/ km ², but varies used with cautious and any estimate should be significantly from one island justified. to another and within the There is no recent detailed survey report presenting islands. This density is par- household level livelihood information. ticularly high in Anjouan There is a lack of digital cartographic and geo-spatial thus creating problems with data, which limits the ability to graphically view and socio-economic conse- analyse affected areas and vulnerability. quences (severe pressure As mentioned by the UNDAC preparedness mission on natural resources, forest in 2010, there is limited availability of recent statistical degradation,etc..) (US Census 2012, UNDP 2010). information. The deteriorating trend of morbidity and No population figures were available at the prefecture mortality rate indicators should be considered in level. relation to the overall degradation of the health The population is very young with 53% of it is under situation on the islands of Comoros (UNDAC 2010). 20 years. Women of childbearing age represent The role of remittances in response to emergencies, 23.6% of the population. Of these women nearly half and not solely as a livelihood strategy, should be (49.9%) are married. However, the divorce rate further explored. among women is not negligible (7.6%). The No recent nutritional data is available for children <5. proportion of married men is estimated at 46%. The average age at first marriage (30 years for men) and (24 years for women) varies from one island to 2 Briefing Package - Flash Floods Comoros another: Grand Comore men marry a bit later (31 Comoros lessons learned years) compared to Anjouan and Mohéli (28 years). Polygamy, an important aspect in terms of family During 2009 Floods, the emergency needs of the cohesion, is not observed in the same way in all three population fall into three categories, namely: (i) islands: the rate of polygamy in Anjouan (22%) is essential goods; (ii) health, hygiene and sanitation; higher that of Grand Comore (19%) and Mohéli and (iii) urgent rehabilitation of community (14%) (UNDP 2010). infrastructure and dwellings. Most of the affected The total fertility rate is estimated at 5.3 children per areas were in poor rural districts. Furthermore, the woman. Life expectancy at birth is 65.5 years with violence and continued bad weather have caused 64.3 years for males and 66.9 years for women serious disruptions to basic communication facilities (UNDP 2010). such as major roads and bridges, making access difficult. The Government has also reported a sharp