SECRETARIAT - 150 route de Ferney, P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland - TEL: +41 22 791 6033 - FAX: +41 22 791 6506 www.actalliance.org Rapid Response Payment Request No. 10 Funds Sent To: World Council of Churches Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation Amount Sent: 12,535 USD Date: 7 October, 2011 Details of Response Emergency: Landslide in Armenia Date of Emergency: 2 October 2011 Requesting Member(s): World Council of Churches Armenia Inter-Church Charitable Round Table Foundation DETAILS OF THE EMERGENCY: Torrential rains received in the north-western region of Tavush in Armenia caused a landslide which buried several cars on the main road close to Lchkadzor village near the border with Georgia rendering it impassable. The landslide was 200 m long and 60 m in height. A number of trucks and cars rolled into Debed river as a result. Electricity is cut off in the neighbouring communities because of damaged power lines. Five (5) people are declared missing; nine (9) people are hospitalized; 35 machines are completely buried and most of them damaged. Search and rescue teams worked tirelessly throughout day and night. With rains continuing to pour, the threat of the landslide hazard is still a reality and complicates the search and rescue work since heavy equipment cannot be used. There are about 77 members of the search and rescue team on scene working tirelessly with many community volunteers using spades and hand power. ACTIONS TO DATE, AND EMERGENCY NEEDS: Following a decision of the Armenian Prime Minister and with direct supervision of the Minister of Emergencies, an intervention team is formed to eliminate the impact of the landslide and for the effective coordination of the action of rescuers, fire-fighters, the Ministry of Emergency, Defense, Health, Transport and Communication, police officers and volunteers from different communities. Initial support was provided in the landslide area to assist the passengers in the cars and also the different means of transportation left in the ruins. On Thursday 6 October, the Ministry of Emergencies disseminated message to all local and international organizations calling for rapid response and support. Emergency & RRF No. 2 The Armenia Round Table keeps regular contacts with the management of the operative team and the local priest of the affected district of its partner Tavush Diocese for the latest updates and of rapid needs assessment caused by the emergency. Currently the following activities are completed: An operative team is formed for effective coordination of different parties, Rescue teams from all regions of Armenia are working for 3 duties, Crisis management center keeps regular contact with the emergency scene, As of October 6, hundreds of volunteers from different communities joined the rescuers and firefighters to participate in search and rescue operations. The number of the volunteers from different communities is increasing, The Ministry of Emergencies gives regular updates on National TV channels, radio, on the following websites: www.mes.am; www.news.am. PROPOSED EMERGENCY RESPONSE: Based on the initial rapid assessment in close cooperation with the management of operative team and local priest of Tavush Diocese ART is currently planning immediate response to the emergency situation. The following activities will be carried out by the rescuing team, volunteers from communities and groups from different structures: Organization and the purchase of the required emergency-related logistics and arrangements with communicators. The equipment is foreseen for the rescuers, volunteers from local communities, and other people working in the places, Follow-up the distribution of the emergency-related logistics, Preparation work for monitoring: preparation of the relevant documentation and questionnaires, Monitoring and evaluation: the group of monitoring will be consisted of ART staff, clergy from Tavush Diocese, Reporting. The Ministry of Emergencies and the operational management group assessed the needs for the moment. There are many problems and needs existing at the place, especially technical and communication equipment but the Ministry appealed to the Armenia Round Table to provide the following support: Tents 11 Sleeping bags 50 Portable kitchen 1 Bio-toilets 2 Generators 2 Torches 100 OBJECTIVE(S) OF THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE: The emergency response will enhance capabilities of human resources to complete the rescue activities in a successful and timely manner. Ensure better conditions for quick and urgent response. Rescuers and the community volunteers are working in hardest conditions without technical and sanitary-hygienic equipment for 24 hours. The temperature is even colder at nights than usually for this period of time in autumn. People need better conditions to be able continue working. The Minister of Emergency Situations who is in the place and coordinating the operative team activities assured that the search and rescue work will be non-stopped until any information about the missing people. Emergency & RRF No. 3 Also, the governor informed, that a group of specialists from the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Geology are investigating the mountain landslide in the disaster zone to identify the reasons of the hazard that is actively continues. TARGET POPULATIONS: An irrigation water pipeline supplying water the following five communities is damaged: Lchkadzor (with population of 480), Haghtanak (with population of 2400), Ptghavan (with population of 1700), Bagratashen (with population of 3200), and Debetavan (with population of 1200). According to the official statistics the age range of the population in all five villages is as follows: 12% under 5, 15% 6-17, 58% 18-65, and 15% over 65. Sex ratio is accordingly as follows: male 42% and female 58%. The main source of income of the population is from agriculture. The villages are located close to the affected area. In the result of the damaged irrigation water pipeline the villagers are deprived of watering the orchards and the fields after the harvest and will face economic hardships caused by the hazard. In addition, an orchard with a small house owned by a local teacher from Lchkadzor is completely destroyed and the main road for the tracks bringing goods through Georgia is ruined. Another road passing around is overburdened that makes problematic situation in the communication and over the economy of the country. PROPOSED ASSISTANCE: All the activities for organizing and managing the rapid response in this emergency situation in Tavush region are geared towards increasing working and living conditions of the rescuers and the volunteers, and groups from different structures. What is needed are: 11 tents with heating, 50 sleeping bags, 1 portable kitchen with appropriate equipment, 2 bio-toilets and 2 generators will enhance the working conditions of rescuers and volunteers (about 300 daily) from local communities to: find 5 missing people take out the 35 vehicles under the ruins clean up and reconstruct the main road more than 300 meters length and 60 meters height support 5 communities in agricultural activities through reconstructing the irrigating pipes. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENTS: For implementation arrangements ART works with the Ministry of Emergencies as the situation is specific and needs professional approaches. ART staff will carry out the emergency response with close collaboration of its partner in the place Tavush Diocese. COORDINATION: The emergency situation in Armenia is of a rapid onset nature – loss of human lives, material loss and damages, has disrupted the normal basic order of several communities, traffic and communication, and the country as well. As the emergency situation requires urgent intervention and taking into the consideration of saving lives of missed people, ART has initiated the elaboration of rapid response programme ensuring effective coordination of the planned activities with the assistance of local church representatives and visibility in the country as an ACT Alliance member through media and National TV Channels. COMMUNICATIONS: ART is in close cooperation and communication with operations team and Tavush Diocese that are ready to assist in further activities including provision and distribution of the humanitarian aid, monitoring and evaluation process. Emergency & RRF No. 4 PLANNED IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: N Activity Timeframe (starting 8 October) 1. Purchase of the emergency-related logistics and 2-3 days arrangements with communicators 2. Carry and handover of the emergency-related logistics 3 days 3. Follow-up the distribution of the emergency-related 2nd week logistics Preparation for monitoring 2nd week 4. Monitoring and evaluation 4th week, 2nd month 5. Reporting Every two weeks; Final report - 3rd month BUDGET Required Required Unit Description Quantity Total Total Cost(AMD) (AMD) (USD) 1 Requested emergency-related logistics Sleeping bag unit 50 30'000 $4'021 1'500'000 Tent (for 40 people, with heating) unit 1 380'000 380'000 $1'019 Tent (for 20 people) unit 5 140'000 700'000 $1'877 Tent (for 10 people) unit 5 100'000 500'000 $1'340 Biotoilets unit 2 170'000 340'000 $912 Portable kitchen unit 1 430'000 430'000 $1'153 Generator unit 2 200'000 400'000 $1'072 Torches unit 100 2'000 200'000 $536 2 ART administration Office supplies / communication lumpsum 3 13'000 39'000 $105 Audit and monitoring lumpsum 1 186'500 186'500 $500 Grand Total $12'535 Exchange Rate: US$ 1 = 373 AMD ACTION The ACT Secretariat has approved the use of USD 12,535 towards the budget from its Rapid Response Fund and would be grateful to receive contributions to wholly or partially replenish this payment. Should there be an appeal for this emergency, the RRF payment will be considered as an advance. For further information please contact: ACT Regional Programme Officer, Josef Pfattner (phone +4122 791 6710) or ACT General Secretary, John Nduna (phone +41 22 791 6032 or mobile phone +41 79 203 6055) .