ARMENIAN RED CROSS S OCIETY HAZARD, VULNERABILIT Y AND CAPACITY ASSES SEMENT IN KURTAN COMMUNITY OF LORI RE GION REPORT YEREVAN, ARMENIA JUNE 2013 This report was prepared within the framework of ARCS ―Building Safe and Resilient Communities‖ Project. The first VCA was implemented in the Kurtan community within the UNDP Armenia’s DRR project in 2012. Later, Armenian Red Cross Society, within its ―Building Safe and Resilient Communities‖ Project, updated the existing data, defined priority mitigation measures and produced current report. The Project is implemented with financial assistance of the Austrian Development Agency and the Austrian Red Cross Society The aim of the Project is to decrease vulnerability of rural and urban population against disasters in Armenia. Lori Region and Yerevan, the capital of the Republic of Armenia were selected as targets for the Project implementation. There are 6 target communities in Lori region, among which 4 rural and 2 urban communities. 96000 people intended to become a beneficiary within the framework of the Project. Those are people living in most vulnerable, hazardous rural and urban communities and are permanently have human and material loses as a result of any type of disaster. Authors alone are responsible for the content of this report which does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Austrian Development Agency. 2 Content 1. Data Collection and analysis 5 2. Secondary data sources 6 3. Geographical location and Climate of Kurtan Community 6 4. Population of community 6 5. Hazards affecting Kurtan community 7 6. Main dwelling 7 7. Local and national roads 7 8. Local and National transport 8 9. Sewage 8 10. Scavenging 8 11. Water Supply 8 12. Employment 8 13. Irrigation 8 14. Field observation 8 15. Mapping 11 16. Seasonal calendar 13 17. Historical calendar 15 18. Semistructured interviews 18 19. Capacities of community to face with emergency situations 19 20. Emergency situations occurred in community in recent year and their consequences 19 21. DRR related events organized in the community 19 22. Mass survey among population using questionnaires 20 23. Main hazards affecting community 20 24. Seasonality of hazards 21 25. Frequency of hazards 22 26. Losses incurred by population as a result of emergency situations in the community 23 27. Combination of hazards and vulnerability 23 28. Knowledge of community residents about disasters 25 29. Issues identified by the community residents, their causes and possible solutions according to vulnerability reduction and enhancing capacities 29 3 Abbreviations 1. ES – Emergency situations 2. VCA – Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment 3. DRR – Disaster Risk Reduction 4.MES – Ministry of Emergency Situations 5. UN – United Nations 6. RC – Red Cross 7. EHTS – Emission of High Toxic Substances 4 The process of Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment in Kurtan Community Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment is a main component of Risk Management on Local Level, which is implemented together with community, supporting the process of identification of disaster risks. 1. Data Collection and Analysis Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment in Kurtan community was conducted in 4 days through community participatory approach. Assessment was conducted with the support of DRR Regional Working Group representatives and DRR Community Team as well as with direct participation of local coordinator. Regional and community authorities have actively participated during the process of vulnerability and capacity assessment. It is worth to mention community main actors and population active participation and inspiration during the whole process of VCA. The number of people participated in VCA in the community reached 260, among which: Number of participants on general meeting of the community – 61 people o Head of community o Members of Community Council-7 people o School director, o Kindergarten director, representatives -8 people o Teachers – 7 people, o Representatives of Community hall – 12 people, o Representatives of local clinic - 2 people, o Community residents-23 people Focus Group of farmers- 9people, Focus Group of residents involved in animal husbandry – 12, Focus Group of activists of the community – 8, Respondents among community residents – 170 people. 52% of interviewees were man and 48% were woman. According to age: 10 % of interviewees were below 18 years. 11% - from 18 to 25 years old, 48 % - from 26 - 50 years old, 33% - from 50 and older: Data gathered from VCA has been analyzed during general meeting with community. As a result, recommendations related to risk reduction of hazards affecting community were developed. 5 2. Secondary Data sources Data and other information about the community was collected from Lori Regional Municipality, Kurtan municipality, Regional Rescue Service, National Hydrometeorological Service, Official site of State Cadastre, etc. Data about population number is taken from Cadastre Data Service, where no explanation about the absence of information on population number during 2004 – 2011 is provided. 3. Geographical location and Climate of Kurtan community. Kurtan Community is located in Lori Region, 18 km south-east from Stepanavan city, distance from regional center is 36 km. The community was set up in 1730 – 1740s. The community is located 981 - 1350 m. above the sea level. Winter is cold and summer is cool. Dry weather in recent yearsis frequent phenomenon. Gargar river that crosses the comminity is adjacent to Dzoraget river from right down side of the community. 4. Population of the community Kurtan community was set up in 1730 – 1740s. Data on the number of population is available from 1831. The number of population of Kurtan community was: In 1831- 187 people, In 1959 – 2143 people, In 1897 – 1159 people, In 1979– 1818 people, In 1926 – 1831 people, In 2001-2032people, In 1939 – 2297 people, In 2004- 1910 people. Number of population from 1831 to 2011 Currently the number of population of Kurtan community is 2405, currently 2014 people are living. 6 Number of households - 595: 49% are man, and 51% are woman 20 % of population are below 18 years old, from 18 to 63 years old – 69% and above 63 years old are 11% of population. 7% of residents are permanently employed, 14 % are pensioners and 58% are unemployed. There 120 families in need and receive allowance in the community, 350 large families and 6 families are living in temporary houses. Community is governed by the Head of the community and 7 Community Council Members. Staff of Community Hall recruited by the Head of Community consists of 12 employees (7 man and 5 woman) 5. Hazards affecting Kurtan Community No study has been conducted on hazards affecting Darpas Community and data. on identified hazards is not available. Lori Regional Rescue Department of MES Rescue Service has conducted Disaster Risk Assessement in Darpas Community, according to which the following hazards affecting community has been identified: earthquake,landslide, forest fire, rockfall. Hail, heavy rains and snow, as well as frequent and stronger winds have been recently recorded. Man-made emergency situation do not treaten community, except of fire and explosions that will treat institutions, public and other types of buildings in the community. 6. Main dwellings There is aschool in the community constructed in 1985. It is renovated and kindergarten is situated insed this building. It has a library, museum, medical center. There are active factories in the community – asphalt factory, bakery, electric mill, farm and 2 hydroelectric stations. There are also Community hall, communication center and 7 markets. There are 2 bridges in the community that are in a good condition and fully used. There are also dwellinds – milk factory, Culture house, kindergarten building and instrument making factory in the community. 7. National and local roads Kurtan community is located 7 km away from Stepanavan – Vanadzor highway (M3). The road that connects with this highway crosses Gyulakarak and Vardablur communities. This road is paved with asphalt and is in a good condition, fully used. The road that connects the community with Arevatsag, Dzoragyugh, Antaramut, Dzoragetavan communities and Tumanyan station is paved with unmettaled bilding materials and in sufficient condition. Community local roads are mainly unmettaled or from bilding materials and are in a very poor condition. 7 8. Local and National transport There are bus and microbus routs that connect community with Vanadzor city. Private taxi services are also available in the community. The closest airport, currently not operated, is in Stepanavan city. Gyumri airport is 68 km away from Community. 9. Sewage There is a sewage system in the community which partially damaged. The whole sewage system needs rebuilding. 10. Scavenging There is no waste station in neighboring community areas. Scavenging is performed by local authorities. Car, rented by the Community hall is transporting waste once a week and throw directly to Dzoraget river. 11. Water supply Supply of drinking and irrigation water is carried out by ―Lori-Jrmughkoyughi‖ LLC. Permanent water supply is carried out through centralized system, which is technicaly in poor condition and needs renovation. 12. Transportation According to the information provided by the Head of the Community, there are 135 cars, 43 trucks, 6 buses, 3 minibuses, 6 buldozers, 57 tractors and 2 excavators in the community. 13. Employment Residents mainly involved in wheat, barley,