Nations Unies United Nations Office of the Resident Coordinator Serbia • Kraljevo Earthquake Situation Report No. 5 Date December 9, 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. The City of Kraljevo received donations from the City of Maribor (Slovenia), Unicredit Bank and OTP Bank. 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. UNICEF started delivering 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 has raised 11% 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 3, 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 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. Page 1 of 4 As of December 7, 2010, out of a total number of 16,000 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 862 buildings in total so far, 215 buildings of those that were condemned will be demolished, 647 to be repaired. As of November 30, most students returned to school. However, three high schools are still closed due to damage to premises. Local authorities have found temporary solutions, and have relocated students to schools that are deemed safe. Classes in those schools that are now hosting additional students have been divided into three or four shifts, and lessons have been abbreviated, lasting for 30 minutes. All kindergartens were cleared as safe, and are functioning. The Serbian government will support the earthquake rehabilitation operation in Kraljevo with 10 million Euros. Up to date, approximately 2 million Euros has been withdrawn. According to the Minister Milan Markovic, 40 to 60 days will be needed to complete and to mantle all 500 pre-fab houses. Plan is to build up 10 houses per day, depending on weather conditions in winter period. 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. The City of Maribor (Slovenia) donated 40,000 EUR to the City of Kraljevo, for repairing damaged houses. OTP Bank donated 1 million RSD (approximately 9,500 EUR) to the Red Cross branch in Kraljevo. UniCredit Bank Serbia & UniCredit Fund Milano donated 2 million RSD (approximately 19,000 EUR) for repairing Health Centre “Studenica” in Kraljevo. 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 between € 920 to € 1,100). 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 should start by December 10th. Less damaged households would also receive financial assistance worth between 20,000 and 40,000 RSD (approximately €180–€ 360), distribution of which would, according to the Mayor of Kraljevo, start at the beginning of next year. UNESCO will provide US$ 50,000 of emergency aid for the restoration of cultural monuments damaged by the quake. Pledged financial assistance will be followed by expert assistance. This was 2 announced by the Serbian Minister of Culture after a meeting with the Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Irina Bokova. UNHCR - Details of their assistance can be seen in the Matrix. UNICEF is procuring school furniture and materials for schools in Kraljevo. The first delivery is expected to commence on December 09. UN RC is coordinating with the EU Delegation on accessing emergency assistance via EU Mechanisms (DG/ECHO). With this in mind, the Ministry for Public Administration and Local Self Government is, in close consultation with local authorities in Kraljevo and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, preparing a letter to formally request DG/ECHO assistance. 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. Up to date schools in villages Samaila, Drakcici, Mrsac, Milosaj, Dragosinjci, Zmajevac, Ribnica and 2 schools in Kraljevo have been assessed; planned to visit school in village Pecenog. UNDP met with Municipal Authorities and agreed the details for the development of a new database which should gather all information on damage assessments, social status, gender, age and ethnic structure of the affected population. An IT person, to be tasked with the database development has been identified by municipal authorities. This database 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 will be set up to store all information on donations and assistance received. 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 2,529 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 the continuation of psycho-social support until the end of May 2011. IFRC Emergency Appeal seeking € 303,711 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 11% of the target. KEY GAPS € 100 - 150 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.