Nations Unies United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator Serbia • Kraljevo Earthquake Situation Report No. 6 Date: December 16th, 2010 I. Highlights/Key Priorities The Minister of Public Administration and Local Self Government (MPALSG), Mr. Milan Markovic, appointed government focal point for coordination of the national response to this disaster, announced a plan for all reparations of buildings with minor damage to be completed by the end of this year, while reconstruction of the buildings with major damage expected to be completed by the end of 2011. Overall, the immediate relief effort is subsiding and the focus is moving towards mid and long term recovery and reconstruction planning. A consortium of 13 companies for the production of 500 prefabricated houses has been selected and contracts were signed on the 1st of December. According to the press release, there will be up to 130 units of 40,7m2, 200 units of 61,8 m2 and 200 units of 82,4 m2. At the moment, 35 foundations for houses are settings, followed by 15 foundations next week. Five houses are ready to be constructed; construction of 13 houses will start in next few days. According to the plan, 100 houses are expected to be finished by the end of 2010. Agrobanka donated 1 million RSD to the City of Kraljevo Government of Japan donated 62,272 EUR for repairing elementary school “Dimitrije Tucovic” in Kraljevo. EU/Swiss/UNOPS – PROGRESS three engineers continue damage assessment in Kraljevo and surrounding area. HELP started with delivery of construction material in Kraljevo. UNICEF delivered school supplies and didactic aids for schools in Kraljevo. UNDP has started developing a database of assessments in order to gather all information relating to the quake with the view of facilitating recovery efforts. The database will be complemented with information gathered by the Red Cross and the Social Welfare Center. The IFRC Emergency Appeal seeking 303,711 EUR has raised 18% of the required amount. A United Nations Assistance to Kraljevo web facility has been established on UNCT official site http://www.un.org.rs/?org=6&lang=en&page=70&type=2&id=229 – providing easy access to all UN Situation Reports and other relevant information regarding the Kraljevo earthquake. The site will include a summary of public and private pledges of support, and the assistance provided by external partners. II. Situation Overview On November 3rd, at 1.58 A.M. an earthquake, measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale / 7.5 on the Mercalli scale hit central Serbia. Since then, Kraljevo has experienced a succession of minor tremors of lesser magnitude. A state of emergency, proclaimed in the municipality is still in place. An Emergency Management HQ (as envisaged by the Law on Emergency Management) was set-up and is headed by Mayor Simovic. The Mayor is spearheading disaster relief under the aegis of the Minister for Public Administration and Local Self Page 1 of 4 Government which was appointed by the GOS to coordinate disaster response. According to rough estimates, the damage in Kraljevo town will exceed initial estimates and could reach Euro 150 Million. As of 15 December 2010, out of a total number of 16,000 reported damaged buildings, 11,385 were assessed/ examined. According to the first-level Commission assessment, 1,554 buildings were condemned, and 9,831 need repair. According to the results of the assessments by second-level Commissions, which assessed 882 buildings in total so far, 219 buildings of those that were condemned will be demolished, 654 to be repaired (IV and V degree of damages) and for 9 houses report has not been issued. So far, the Damage Assessment Commision has completed 7,833 records (consisting of related questionnaire, photos, damage estimation and experts’ conclusions). The results of the assessment currently show that 463 buildings should be demolished and that 482 buildings have 70% (5th degree) damages while 518 buildings have 50% (4th degree) damages. These need to be repaired. The Serbian government will support the earthquake rehabilitation operation in Kraljevo with 10 million Euros. According to the Minister Milan Markovic, 40 to 60 days will be needed to complete and to mantle all 500 pre- fabricated houses. The plan is to build up 10 houses per day, depending on weather conditions. III. Humanitarian Needs and Response NEEDS A number of humanitarian actions are being organized throughout Serbia and abroad to raise funds for the reconstruction of Kraljevo. Significant amount of assistance in cash, and in-kind services has already been delivered directly to the town. The municipality is still in urgent need of technical teams equipped to conduct damage assessments. This lack of technical teams seriously impedes the damage assessment process, and will consequently affect and delay reconstruction of damaged buildings. With deteriorating weather conditions, residents and citizens have identified additional damage to the buildings – leaking roofs are the most common case. This has increased the need for more tarpaulin and roof tiles. Additionally, other construction materials – bricks, gravel, and cement are still in high demand as outlined by the authorities in Kraljevo. RESPONSE (INCLUDING LOCAL GOVERNMENT) AND COMMITMENTS TO DATE Local health institutions and the Red Cross Kraljevo continue to organize psychosocial counseling, mainly for children in schools, but also for adults. Increased need for psychosocial counseling is expected as the weather worsens and living conditions become harder for the earthquake-affected population. Government of Japan donated 62,272 EUR for repairing windows, doors and floor in elementary school “Dimitrije Tucovic” in Kraljevo. Signing ceremony planned to take place on December 17th 2010 in Belgrade. Agrobanka donated 1 million RSD (approximately 9,500 EUR) to the City of Kraljevo HELP is providing construction material for repairing buildings with 50% of damages (4th degree of damage). At the moment 15 households are receiving assistance. Minister Markovic announced that households with severe damage would receive construction materials and financial assistance in the value of between 100,000 and 120,000 RSD (approximately 920 EUR to 1,100 EUR). The financial assistance is intended to cover the cost of preparing necessary project documentation for reconstruction (up to 2 EUR/m2, max 200m2). Distribution of financial aid for these households started on December 10th. Less damaged households would also receive financial assistance worth between 20,000 and 40,000 RSD (approximately 180 EUR to 360 EUR), distribution of which would, according to the Mayor of Kraljevo, start at the beginning of next year. UNESCO - Details of their assistance can be seen in the Matrix. 2 UNHCR - Details of their assistance can be seen in the Matrix. UNICEF is procuring school furniture and materials for schools in Kraljevo. Delivery commenced on December 9th. UN RC is coordinating with the EU Delegation on accessing emergency assistance via EU Mechanisms (DG/ECHO). EU/Swiss/UNOPS – PROGRESS - 3 engineers have joined the damage assessment teams in Kraljevo and assessed damages at schools in Kraljevo, rural areas and damages on City Administration Building. So far, schools in villages Samaila, Drakcici, Mrsac, Milosaj, Dragosinjci, Zmajevac, Ribnica, Pecenog and 2 schools in Kraljevo have been assessed. UNDP is developing a database of assessments that can later be combined with the ones set up by the Red Cross and the Center for Social Welfare, and should provide a good basis for easier recovery and reconstruction priorities identification. Following the request by the Deputy Mayor, a separate database is being set up to store all information on donations and assistance received. UNDP translated the of Action Plan for Urgent Reparations of Consequences of Earthquake in Kraljevo, issued by Municipality of Kraljevo. The translated Action Plan will be made available to interested parties on the UNCT website. Serbian Red Cross and Red Cross branch in Kraljevo - emergency distribution in food and non- food items in place since the quake hit. So far, the Red Cross processed questionnaires and made a database of 2,900 households. There is a planned distribution of food and non-food items for the next 6 months for some 2,000 beneficiaries including 4,000 hygiene parcels and 4,000 food parcels (in 2 cycles); 2,000 repair sets and the continuation of psycho-social support until the end of May 2011. IFRC Emergency Appeal seeking 303,711 EUR in cash, in-kind or services to support the Red Cross of Serbia to assist 8,000 beneficiaries for seven months was launched and will be open through the end of May 2011. Thus far the appeal has raised 18% of the target. The Global Compact in Serbia organized a meeting on 9 December 2010 aimed at setting-up a Working Group for the Assistance to Kraljevo. Meeting conclusions will be published in due course. KEY GAPS 100 – 150 EUR million for recovery will be needed. Teams for technical assessments of damages continue to be a key resource gap, slowing down assessment process, which will consequently delay reconstruction process. Temporary housing for families that do not want to leave their properties is still needed. In the immediate term, building materials continue to remain in short supply. School and hospital reconstruction remains a priority. IV. Coordination National level coordination The Minister for Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Mr. Milan Markovic, is coordinating the national disaster response. Mayor Simovic is coordinating local-level response. The chain of command is functioning well, and the government responded capably to this disaster. The Ministry of Interior (MOI) and line Ministries are delivering disaster relief, with support from surrounding municipalities and citizen volunteers. The Serbian Red Cross works closely with the Municipal Disaster Response HQ and with other 3 national and international partners Local level coordination All activities in the field are being coordinated at the municipal level by the Emergency Management HQ, in line with the new Law on Emergency Situations.