The December 1999 Floods in Venezuela, and the role of the UN’s system in disaster management.

The December 1999 Floods in Venezuela, and the role of the UN’s system in disaster

management

General description of the hydrometeorological phenomenaGeneral description of the hydrometeorological phenomena

As a side effect of “la Niña”

phenomena, an abnormal

and heavy rain affected most

of the northern areas of

Venezuela. In only the three

days, previous to the disas-

ter, the amount of rain was

over the total annual average

rate.

Torrential land slides evolutionTorrential land slides evolution

The steep and high mountains (1800 m) of

the coastal range, added to the heavy rain

and over saturated soils, triggered rocks,

land and mud slides that swiped away

trees and all kind of debris on its

pathway.

Aerial view of flows and alluvial fansAerial view of flows and alluvial fans

Camurí Chico

Los Corales

Macuto

Punta Mulatos

North central coast: Landslide, mud and debris flow and violent flooding

North central coast: Landslide, mud and debris flow and violent flooding

Source: R. Sancio & D. Salcedo & newspapers

Areas of intense erosion, landslides & mudflows

River beds and landslide pathway

Alluvial fans, sediments deposition and violent flooding

Coastal depositional fan deltas

Caracas

La Guaira

Maiquetía

El Ávila

Caraballeda

Affected areas Affected areas

Affected areas

Massive rock slidesMassive rock slides

Quebrada Galipán

Massive erosion and loss of vegetationMassive erosion and loss of vegetation

Caraballeda

Tanaguarena

Northern Coast: Total destructionNorthern Coast: Total destruction

Carmen de Uria

1995 1999

Flooded areasFlooded areas

Flooded areas, and debris driven more than 100 km by the coastal currentsFlooded areas, and debris driven more than 100 km by the coastal currents

Rupture of dams and flooded townsRupture of dams and flooded towns

El Guapo dam’s rupture El Guapo dam’s rupture

70% of the water supply of the areas was lost with the rupture of the 60 m height dam with a capac-ity of 140 millions m3.

Rescue and back homeRescue and back home

CaracasCaracas

International donations and emergency sheltersInternational donations and emergency shelters

La Guaira - Maiquetía

LA GUAIRA: Historical colonial sector and Port facilitiesLA GUAIRA: Historical colonial sector and Port facilities

Macuto - Camurí Chico

Northern coast: Damage and rescueNorthern coast: Damage and rescue

Northern coast: Structural damage and destructionNorthern coast: Structural damage and destruction

Total damage vs. GDPTotal damage vs. GDP

1

10

100

1000

%

Total Damage vs. GDP

Perú, El NiñoEcuador, El Niño

Honduras, Mitch

Falcón

Miranda

Vargas

441515

8080

111166

166166

Distribution of total disaster’s lossesDistribution of total disaster’s losses

2069398

302257 211

VargasDistrito FederalMirandaFalcón

Other States

US$ 3,237 million

22%

36%29%

2% SocialsInfrastructureProductivesEnvironmentalOther damages

11%

National Emergency CommitteeNational Emergency Committee

Support group

Foods

Social organization

Hom eless & refugees

Health

Citizens' Security

Social Developm ent

Roads &Transport

Energy

Strategic Com m unications

W ater supply

Housin g

Infrastructure

Telecom m unications

International Support

Logistic Support

Com m unications & Support

G e nera l C o o rd in a tor

The role of new technologies (1)The role of new technologies (1)

The communications systems were a key aspect on the

rescue and emergency activities. In an area, where the

normal telephone lines and the power supply were down,

the cellular phones were crucial, and the only mean of com-

munication.

The commercial TV channels, also played an important role

in helping the emergency activities


Portable water supply


SIGCO, is a WEB based public man-

agement system, that was developed

to provide consolidated, detailed and

validated information on international

cooperation that Venezuela received

and requires to deal with the emer-

gency

International cooperation information management system: SIGCO


Several water treatment plants, medicines and com-munication equipment were purchased by UNDP with funds originating in dona-tions, channeled through OCHA, from the Govern-ments of Sweden, Norway, Canada, UK and others.

Procurement of goods and services


Technical and material resources were mobilized to deal with the chemical emergency of Port of La Guaira, and to clean up the affected area. Specialists from the Relief Board and Germany (BASF and THW) came to advice on the chemical emergency.

Chemical pollution of Port of La Guaira


A project of risk mapping have been launched with the aid

of new mapping techniques and the use of GIS. The central-

northern coast of Venezuela has been selected as pilot

project , for the national map.

Early warning systems have been designed and some are

under installation in several potentially dangerous streams

of the northern slope of the Coastal Mountain Range

The role of the UN System (1)The role of the UN System (1)

The United Nations System immediately activated the cooperation mechanisms to assist the Government during the emergency phase and support the recovery of affected areas.

On December 22nd, 1999 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution which urges the international community to quickly respond and provide generous aid to Venezuela

During the emergency, the local UN Representative held periodical coordination meetings with the officers of the UN’s Agencies, bilateral donors and NGOs.


The UNDP Emergency and Rehabilitation Unit, assigned a specialist to help in the formulation of rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes. Three experts prepared sev-eral projects on the matter, and are the basis for formu-lating a Program for the Rehabilitation of the Affected Areas.

UNDP launched a project on risk management to help the establishment of a national disaster prevention and man-agement system.


Specialists from ECLAC, supported by US$ 120,000 from UNDP, prepared an evaluation of the social, economic and financial costs and damage of the disaster and a proposals of several rehabilitation and reconstruction projects. The Report was presented to the International Community at a meeting held in Madrid on 21 February 2000, which was jointly convened by IDB and the Government of Spain.

Evaluation of damage’s cost


mobilized personnel to Caracas, prepared the SitReps, mobilized one million dollars, and channeled a further $24 million in bilateral aid, to provide humanitarian aid to the affected people.

funded, jointly with UNDP, SIGCO and kept there an updated information related to the disaster and humanitarian aid.

OCHA:


set up a Venezuelan working group, with joint financing from the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) and UNDP, to characterize the disaster, and published the widely distributed report, : "Study of the effects of the December 1999 floods in Venezuela”.

OCHA:


Agency ActionCAF Support –with UNDP- technical cooperation to

prepare a rehabilitation portfolio; Loans for reconstruction

IDB Mission to review project and identify resources, andto prepare an emergency operation

Emergency loan for US$ 20 million and reorientationof ongoing portfolio for $130 millions to coverrehabilitation needs.

Convened with the Government of Spain the Madridmeeting to channel international cooperation.

IMF Periodical contacts were maintained to keep the IMFinformed about the emergency & rehabilitation.


Agency ActionUNICEF Training workshop “The return to happiness”, for parents and

teachers Implementation of proposals in Water-Sanitation

UNFPA Emergency kits for reproductive healthWFP $200,000 for locally purchased commodities

$5 million emergency program for food supplies to 110,000homeless approved.

PAHO/WHO Set up of an emergency room in Caracas for informationdissemination & installation of SUMA.

Missions of disaster specialists in epidemiology, mentalhealth, sanitation engineers & public health


Agency ActionFAO Implemented a Technical Cooperation Project to

estimate losses & damages in their sectorUNESCO Int’l team of experts in education & ecological

disaster to evaluate technical assistance needsUNEP Director General travelled to Venezuela to evaluate

the possible support from UNEP & HABITAT Mission lead by the Regional Director to complement

the ECLAC’s missionWorld Bank Missions to review situation and identify resources,

as well as to prepare an emergency operation.

Examples of multi-bi cooperation Examples of multi-bi cooperation

The Government of Italy established, through UNDP, a $5

million dollars project to provide emergency assistance and

to start rehabilitation and reconstruction projects in the El

Guapo area.

The Swiss Agency for Humanitarian Aid and UNDP,

launched a project on hazards and risk evaluation.

Conclusions: Lessons learntConclusions: Lessons learnt

Establishment of efficient, adequate and timely information

systems (SIGCO as an example).

Need for a permanent and adequate emergency preparedness

system at National and UN’s Agencies levels.

The key role played by the international cooperation.

The December 1999 Floods in Venezuela, and the role of the UN’s system in disaster management.

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