SITUATION REPORT (27 August 2007)

South West Monsoon

The IMD forecast reports indicate that under the influence of an off-shore trough over Bay of Bengal widespread rainfall would occur over east coast during next 3-4 days (27-30 August). Also in association with a north-south trough and an embedded cyclonic circulation over south Madhya Maharashtra and neighbouring areas, widespread rainfall is likely to occur over Madhya Maharashtra, Marathawada (Aurangabad Division), Gujarat Region and Madhya Pradesh during next 48 hours (27-28 August). Also widespread rainfall is likely to occur over northeastern States, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, and East Uttar Pradesh during next 3-4 days (27-30 August). With the likelihood of an upper air cyclonic circulation formation rainfall activity is likely to increase over northwest from 28 onwards for the next 3 days (28-30 August).

Today’s Heavy Rainfall Warning: scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over Konkan & Goa. Heavy rainfall is likely over northeastern states, Sub-Himalayan, West Bengal & Sikkim, Bihar, east Uttar Pradesh, coastal Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep, south Gujarat region and Madhya Maharashtra.

The following table shows the level of water in rivers of Ganga - Brahmaputra-Meghna Basin. 19 rivers are touching or exceeding the danger level but below the High Flood Situation while in other 13 rivers it’s touching or exceeding the warning level but below the moderate flood situations: River Inflow Flood Forecast District State Trend Flow Trends of Rivers below moderate flood warning level Kosi Baltara Khagharia Bihar Falling Bagmati Benibad Bihar Falling Brahmaputra Dibrugarh Dibrugarh Assam Steady Adhwara Group Ekmighat Bihar Falling Ganga Farakka Murshidabad West Bengal Falling Bagmati Hayaghat Dharbhanga Bihar Falling Adhwara Group Kamtaul Darbhanga Bihar Falling Kushiyara Karimganj Karimganj Assam Rising Burhi Gandak Khagaria Khagharia Bihar Falling Kosi Kursela Katihar Bihar Falling Katakhal Matizuri Hailakandi Assam Rising Burhi Gandak Muzaffarpur Sikandarpur Bihar Falling Dhansiri (S) Numaligarh Golaghat Assam Falling Burhi Gandak Rosera Bihar Falling Burhi Gandak Samastipur Samastipur Bihar Falling Flow Trends of Rivers below the low flood warning level Barak APGhat Cachar Assam Rising Ghaghra Ayodhya Faizabad Uttar Pradesh Rising Kosi Basua Supaul Bihar Falling Kosi Basua Supaul Bihar Falling Ganga Bhagalpur Bhagalpur Bihar Falling Ghaghra Elgin Bridge Barabanki Uttar Pradesh Rising Dhansiri (S) Golaghat Golaghat Assam Falling Ganga Hathidah Patna Bihar Falling Kamla Balan Jhanjharpur Madhubani Bihar Falling Burhi Gandak Lalbeghiaghat Mothihari Bihar Falling Brahmaputra Neamatighat Jorhat Assam Steady Ganga Patna (Gandhighat) Patna Bihar Falling Puthimari Puthimari (NTX) Kamrup Assam Falling Ghaghra Turtipar Ballia Uttar Pradesh Rising River not exceeding the previous Full Reservoir Level Mahanadi Hirakud Dam Sambalpur Orissa Rising 1 SITUATION REPORT (27 August 2007)

AFFECTED STATES • Bihar: 20 districts [Muzaffarpur, Sitamadhi, Sivhar, EastChamparan, WestChamparan, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur, Saharsa, Supwal, Madhepura, Khagaria, Begusarai, Begusarai, Araia, Katihar, Gopalganj, Bhagalpur, Patna, and Nalanda] were affected. The affected districts cover 223 blocks, 2703 panchayats and 9840 villages. The flood affected population is 19.354 million (provisional report). Extend of damage to agricultural cropped area is approximately 1,455,000 Ha while the value of damaged crops is estimated to be at INR 5,961,532. 303358 houses are reported to be damaged [fully (139359) and partially (163999)] and estimated value of damaged houses is INR 2, 259,208. The damage incurred to public properties has been valued at INR 9, 240,963 • Uttar Pradesh: 1525 villages in 19 districts with population of about 1.039 million were affected due to previous week’s floods in districts of Gorakhpur, Shravasti, Bhraich, Maharajgnaj, Bairampur, Basti, Gonda, Mau, Balia, Devria, Azamgarh and Barabanki, Philibit, Faizabad, Sidhartnagar, Keri, Balrampur, Kushinagar, Sitapur, Gorakhphur. Damage to agricultural cropped area has been estimated to be 162,566 Ha and the value of damaged crops is estimated to be at INR 12,195,486. The damaged houses are 50925 [fully- 300], [partially [1136] • Gujarat: The low lying areas in the districts of Rajkot, Jamnagar, Junagarh, Porbandar, Surender Nagar and Amreli were marooned with rainwater. 688,000 people were affected. Damaged sections to 36 Panchayat roads are yet to be restored. 17 feeders, 43 transformers, 2920 electricity poles in these villages have been uprooted, 468,342 Ha’s of cropped area was damaged. • Assam: The flood situation is improving as water level recedes below flood warning levels in 5946 villages of the previous week’s flood affected 26 districts. The flood has affected 6. 816 million people (provisional figures). Damages to 69 dyke’s embankments, 968 PWD roads and 539 semi-permanent timber bridges have been reported. The National Highway (NH-31) Guwahati-Baxirhat continues to be submerged for about 12 km at Howly and Bhawanipur in Barpeta district. Low lying areas and agricultural lands are still submerged under water affecting 360,000 Ha of cropped area. • Orissa: Due to heavy rainfall the low lying areas in 7 districts were submerged affecting 1.596 million people (provisional figures). NH-5 connecting Jajpur Town at Sathipur and Jajpur–Baruan road at Rajghat was disconnected due to overflowing of rivers. Road Communication to Baliapal and Bhograi Block, Balasore district was cut off. • Affected Population: 422,301 million people were affected in 227 districts and 36678 villages across India owing to the active monsoon phase since being of June. The cropped area affected been estimated to be 5.146 million Ha’s since the month of June this year. (provisional figures) • Reported Deaths: The total number of deaths since June of this year is 2196 [Bihar 480; Uttar Pradesh 216; Gujarat 375 and 8 persons missing; Kerala 239; Karnataka 148; Maharashtra 115; West Bengal 212; Andhra Pradesh 57; Assam 42; Orissa 33]

ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES:

• Relief camps opened by the state government: in Bihar 1288 relief camps are operational; in Assam 12 Relief Camps continue to accommodate 4,470 people and 17 relief centers accommodate 7,500 people; in Uttar Pradesh 76000 people have been accommodated in 13 relief camps; in West Bengal 188 relief camps continues to function to accommodate 67352 people; in Orissa 1284 people were evacuated to safer places. • Assistance from Defence, Govt of India, army columns of Engineer Task force have been deployed in Khagaria and Begusarai districts.

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• Medical teams: In Bihar 538 medical teams continue to be deployed in Muzaffarpur, East Champaran West Champaran, Supaul, Bhagalpur, Dharbhanga,Katihar, Madhubani, Gopalganj, Samastipur, , Madhepura, Begusarai; in Gujarat 263 Medical Teams and 164 Medical Officers and 142 Para Medical Staff continue to be deployed in the affected districts for providing medical care; in West Bengal 136 medical camps are providing medical care. • Relief items provided: the state government of Bihar has provided Wheat-62554.25 qtls, Rice-18199.70 qtls,Chura (Beaten Rice)-5592.00 qtls, Gur (jagery)-849.45 qtls, Sattu(whole grains powder)-46.65qtls, Candles-117618, Match Box-60388, Salt- 245.05qls & Polythene Sheets distributed- 35923, cash distributed (INR) 49.886 million, 30800 food packets were air dropped in Darbhanga, Madhubani, East Champaran, Samastipur & Begusarai while 12400 food packets were distributed and 39 tube wells installed; In Uttar Pradesh the relief items include wheat-1622.70 qtls, Rice 29366.50qtls, salt 2012.34 qtls, channa (Chick Peas) 431.93 qtls, Gur (jagery)-230.23 qtls, Potatoes 2719.99 qtls, Dal (lentals) 65704 qtls, Kerosene 423033 liters, candles -180751, Salt- 245.05qls & Polythene Sheets distributed- 87373, Cash distributed to families of dead persons is (INR) 26.973 million while total ex-gratia amount released by state government is INR 80.604 million; In Assam 84091 polythene sheets distributed, PHE Dept has distributed water-purifying chemicals in affected villages, 1723 hand tube wells installed and 65789 people have been treated for water related infection. • The 1st Inter Agency Coordination meetings of Government, International Agencies and Other Humanitarian Agencies took place on 21st August 2007 where almost 40 representatives from various agencies and departments have attended the meeting for taking stock of the Sectoral Interventions by specialized agencies at district level.

UN INTERVENTIONS:

• UNICEF Response in Bihar; Nutrition- A total of 21,065 children (6 months - 5 years of age) have been assessed by 40 teams. Counseling of Mothers: During the rapid assessment, a total of 2,893 mothers were counseled on exclusive breast feeding, complementary feeding and hygiene practices. Mothers of severe and acute malnourished children were advised to feed the child as frequently as possible with small soft feeds. Advocacy with the Government of Bihar: UNICEF encouraged the Department of Social Welfare to revive the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). Approximately 4,700 AWCs, out of a total 7,446 visited and assessed so far, are partially damaged and have disrupted services. Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs): with the support from the State Health Society and District Administration, locations to set up NRCs have been identified in the two worst-off districts: Muzaffarpur and East Champaran. These centres are now under renovation to become child- friendly. Medical teams will be in place shortly and the NRCs are planned to be functional in a week’s time. Community Kitchens: Presently, 28 NGOs are supported to ensure nutritious meals through community kitchens. This initiative has reached to 11,500 children and 1,390 pregnant mothers. The process of supporting more NGOs to operate Community Kitchens is in progress; Health -A comprehensive disease surveillance and containment plan is in place for early detection and prevention of outbreaks of gastroenteritis, malaria, measles, and leptospirosis. Over 280,000 people have been treated since the initiation of relief efforts by the mobile medical teams and fixed site teams mobilized jointly by the Government and UNICEF. There have been 18,897 cases of fever, 383 cases of fever with rash, 56 cases of jaundice, 11,200 cases of ARI (cough) and 13,599 cases of diarrhoea. As of 18/08/07, more than 22,000 children have been immunised with measles and were given Vitamin A supplementation. In order to reach out to the far-flung areas with 3 SITUATION REPORT (27 August 2007) difficult access, a partnership effort has been launched with partners like CRS and Indian Medical Association (IMA). UNICEF and the Govt. of Bihar are also partnering in an effort to provide essential maternal health services to the displaced populations and in areas where health facilities have not resumed functioning. UNICEF is supporting this endeavour by providing tents, midwifery kits and emergency health kits. Equipments for setting up 3 such units in each district are being sent to the districts of Begusarai, Khagaria and Samastipur. UNICEF staff members will be providing the technical support to the District Administration to operationalise these units. The activities to be taken up in the near future include: providing essential health services through fixed sites and also outreach services; re-establishing immunization services including measles and vitamin A vaccination;preventing the spread of malaria through health education and provision of bed nets; strengthening the process of re-operationalisation of health centres and providing treatment at facility level for cases of severe malnutrition.; Water and Sanitation -The Government agencies have repaired 13,685 hand pumps, reconstructed 1,385 hand pumps with raised platforms and installed 585 temporary hand pumps and 269 toilet sets in relief camps with UNICEF support. District action plans have been developed with the government for repair and rejuvenation of about 150,000 hand pumps in 19 flood affected districts. UNICEF is also working with NGO partners to disinfect water in households through use of halozone tablets/bleaching powder, promote hand washing and hygiene in temporary shelters and affected villages, construct toilets in temporary shelters and provide toilets as an integral part of family housing for the flood rehabilitation in affected villages. UNICEF has expanded its partnership with Action for Community Empowerment, an NGO specialised in capacity building/orientation, coordination, monitoring and reporting of Government and NGO’s flood mitigation activities; Communication and Social Mobilization-A mass awareness campaign is ongoing in coordination with all Government Departments and partners to promote the practice of key behaviours related to health, nutrition, safe drinking water, hygiene etc. The campaign includes dissemination of IEC material, radio spots and training of all Anganwadi workers to communicate key messages with families. Education-The assessment on the status of schools is currently ongoing. Based on the outcome, UNICEF supplies and support in terms of TLM and TLE will be determined. Alternative Learning Centres for about 300,000 children will be set up, where schools are damaged or used as camps in the 8 worst affected districts.; Child Protection-An assessment supported by UNICEF has been conducted in two districts, Samastipur and Madhubani, to assess the child protection concerns due to floods. The study is looking at indicators such as missing, orphaned, children heading households (working without parents), no. of children who left the district to earn livelihood for child labor, no. of children reported to have been trafficked, no. of families who have no access to services, no. of women, children reportedly victims of violence and abuse.

Uttar Pradesh: Health and Nutrition -The assessment of the damage to health centres and cold chain equipment is ongoing. 71 mobile clinics, out of 105 planned, are now operational and cover 449 villages. The mobile clinic teams have reached approx. 25,000 people, including 8,524 children, with immunization, ORS distribution and health- hygiene education. Essential drugs have been ordered and 1 million ORS packets have been provided to district health authorities; 20,000 IEC leaflets on diarrhea management have been distributed. Health workers have been trained in disease prevention and management with a focus on water-borne diseases, safe water, hygiene, breast-feeding and nutrition. UNICEF has worked closely with NGO partners regarding a coordinated distribution of tarpaulins, jerry cans, Halogen and other supplies; Water and Sanitation-NGOs, with UNICEF support, have begun the work of disinfection and solid waste disposal in five districts. The location for new hand pumps are being identified in consultation with Government partners. Installation of Ecosan toilets is in progress in 4 SITUATION REPORT (27 August 2007)

Barabanki district. Over 5,000 families have received safe drinking water storage devises and over 10,000 families have received temporary shelter; Education -Sites have been identified for opening of approx. 50 temporary schools, each school is planned to provide learning space for 50 children between 3-14 years.

Assam–UNICEF has achieved an effective co-ordination with the State Disaster Management Unit/Relief Commissioner’s Office, Health & PHED departments, district administrations and partner NGOs on rapid response. All pre-positioned items were used immediately. Advocacy with the Health Department on measles immunization for all children (9 months to 14 years) in camps has resulted in the Govt. of Assam agreeing to conduct measles immunization with Vitamin A supplementation in 6 worst affected districts; ORS (20,000) and PuR (200,000) sachets made available to the Health department to work; 2,000 mosquito nets distributed in 4 areas through NGO partners to address malarial outbreak.Advocacy with PHED on improving sanitation and hygiene conditions in camps and affected villages; 100,000 PuR sachets were made available to PHED. Participation in Sphere-URS co-ordination Meeting (22nd August) at which UNICEF's leadership in working with the government departments, notably Health, ICDS and PHED, was highlighted and the participants briefed on activities underway, as well as supplies being provided to government as well as NGOs.

Orissa - A joint assessment visit was undertaken by UNDP and UNICEF in Balasore on 22nd August. The water level is receding but the danger of epidemic and spreading of diarrhea is large among the affected population.UNICEF is assisting the government in assessing the current emergency supply stock position and replenishing supplies to ensure that emergency supplies like bleaching powder, PuR, Halazone, ORS etc are adequately maintained - not only to cover the current relief operations but also as pre- positioning strategy for a fresh round of floods in near future. UNICEF is engaged in developing a plan with the State Water & Sanitation Mission for raising awareness at the community levels on preparedness. The plan includes building capacities of volunteers for demonstrating use of PuR, Halazone, ORS etc. at the community level focusing on women & children.UNICEF continues to closely monitor the situation with other UN Agencies like UNDP & UNFPA and NGOs. Meetings and interactions have been held with the agencies on coordination, response strategies and information-sharing.

• UNDP through its on-going programme with the state government is supporting the State Government of Bihar and Assam. In Bihar the staff members are assisting the district administration in coordinating and managing relief and temporary shelter needs and also are a part of the NGO and Inter agency coordination meetings in Patna.

• WHO in association with Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GoI, has been closely monitoring the disease situation in the flood-affected districts of Bihar. To strengthen the existing disease surveillance programme and risk assessment, a team from WHO India Country Office is presently visiting Patna and flood-affected districts. The state government has established a disease-monitoring centre at Patna. The centre has computer facilities and is linked to the medical teams, which are located in the flood- affected districts. So far there are 57 medical teams in the field. The WHO provided technical advice and promoted the use of recently modified reporting format under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme. The team also held discussions with the state government to initiate the measles vaccination programme in the selected flood areas.

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Sources: • Disaster Management Division, MHA • Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) • Central Water Commission (CWC) • UNICEF

For Further Information contact:

Mr. Sushil Kumar Assistant Resident Representative (DRM) UNDP e-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 91-9818534995

Mr G Padmanabhan Emergency Analyst UNDP e-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 91-98104 02937

For more reports log on to http://www.undp.org.in

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