OCHA Sudan: Report of Inter-Agency Mission to Kassala State

INTRODUCTION
1. A fact-finding UN inter-agency Mission was fielded on 1st August 2003 to assess the preliminary damage caused by the flooding of Kassala city by the river Gash. The mission conducted an aerial survey of the entire city followed by field visits to some of the most affected areas on the eastern and western sides of the river Gash. The mission comprised of Humanitarian Aid Commission (HAC), WFP, UNICEF, OCHA and ACCORD. The mission was briefed by the Government (Wali, the Deputy Wali and the State Minister of Agriculture), NGOs (the Spanish Red Cross, the Dutch Red Cross, IFRC, SRC, ACCORD, GOAL, IRC) and households affected by the flooding, on the preliminary scope of the damage and their priorities for immediate assistance.

2. Early and excessive rainfall in the Eritrean highlands along with localised rains in the Kassala region caused the river Gash to breach levies on 29 July 2003, thereby flooding both eastern and western Kassala city. According to the Government's preliminary estimates 70 percent of the population (300,000) living in 33 of the 35 residential areas was affected to some extent or the other. The only areas that were not affected were Al Murbaat, Al Shabiya and parts of Al Khatmiya. The total population is estimated at 450,000 people.

3. The water levels have continued to fluctuate and the situation still remains uncertain because of the additional rainfall forecasted for this week in the Eritrean highlands and the Kassala region. The water levels in the river Kassala need to be carefully monitored and contingency planning for additional flooding should be undertaken immediately.

4. In view of the nature of the emergency, which cut off physical access and telecommunications, no comprehensive assessment missions have been carried out so far. Available data are therefore estimates, based on figures provided by the GOS and on the findings of the rapid assessment teams. Committees are being established by the GOS to conduct needs assessments and compile figures on the affected population and the extent of the disaster. The UN and NGOs in cooperation with the GOS started providing immediate assistance to those populations at risk.

5. Agencies have diverted resources from other projects to quickly respond to this disaster and will issue a flash appeal in order to replenish depleted stocks as soon as a thorough needs assessment has been carried out and the need for additional support can be clearly quantified. A list of items provided so far by the GOS, UN and NGOs is attached.

6. A situation report and a press statement have been issued in order to keep the humanitarian community informed about the on-going emergency in Kassala. As previously reported, a 24 hours emergency cell has been established within OCHA office to gather and share information on the evolution of the situation and assistance required. The emergency cell works in close cooperation with the Operations Centre created for the same purpose within the Humanitarian Aid Commission. A UN Humanitarian Affairs Officer supports coordination in Kassala and a UN Area Coordinator will be deployed to Kassala within the next two days to help the local community coordinate both emergency and recovery assistance.

CURRENT SITUATION

7. The Mission found that by 1st August 2003 the situation had significantly improved as the water had receded from most of the localities within the city. There were still some roads covered by water but passable for various modes of transportation. The markets were open and people were going about their business.

8. The Mission observed that the localities closest to the river (1-3 km) on both sides incurred serious damage (Area Block 29 and 30, Ramlah Village, Hayal Marghania, and Al Halanga). Most mud-houses in this vicinity were completely destroyed and some of the brick-houses were also partially or completely totalled. The Government reported that their initial estimates suggest that 70,000 houses may have been partially or totally destroyed. The Kassala TV and Radio station were flooded and therefore not broadcasting. The Kassala University and over a hundred schools were also closed due to flooding. The main road after the bridge on the eastern side of the river was partially damaged and in need of immediate repair. The electricity was still not restored for most of the city but the water filtering station had started to function.

9. The watermarks on the outside walls of the buildings and houses indicated that the flood water level in most areas closer to the river was more than 3 feet. It appears that majority of the households had some warning - as the flood water levels grew slowly - therefore people were able to bring their belongings including livestock to higher grounds. This also explains the limited loss of human life and livestock caused directly by the floods. There have been four confirmed deaths - three people drowned while trying to cross the river and one child was killed by a falling ceiling.

10. Some of the households that were seriously affected were actually living in the water-catchments designed to receive the overflow from the river Gash on the western side. When asked why people are living in such areas, the general answer was that the majority of the people work on building dykes and therefore like to live closer to the river.

11. Based on the above, the mission evaluates the current humanitarian situation in Kassala as serious and unpredictable, as further rainfall in Kassala proper and in the Eritrean highlands, as predicted by the weather forecast, will increase the damage significantly and hit the most vulnerable populations.

PRIORITIES FOR ASSISTANCE

Shelter

12. The Mission found that the first priority for assistance is shelter (tents) for the people who have lost their houses. These people and their belongings are currently exposed to weather elements, which do not look favourable. Additional rains are forecasted for this week in both Kassala and the Eritrean highlands, which could result in additional floods.

13. The Mission did not come across any flood affected households living is newly distributed tents. The only households residing in tents that the Mission observed were economic migrants and did not appear to be seriously affected by the floods. The households that have severely suffered flood damage are reportedly unwilling to be temporarily relocated -- even if such facilities were available -- because they want to protect their limited assets and start the process of rebuilding as soon as possible.

14. The GOS has supplied 1,000 pieces of plastic sheeting, UNICEF an additional 1,000 and IRC plans to deliver 600 within the coming days. This quantity will be sufficient to accommodate 3,000 -- 4,000 most affected people that are living under the trees. Additional shelter material will be required to assist an estimated 100,000 -- 150,000 affected persons, equivalent to approximately 25,000 households reportedly living in public buildings, depending on the results of a comprehensive needs assessment.

Drinking Water

15. The second priority is access to clean water. The water filtration system for the city is only partially functional, most areas on the borders of the city are still without access to clean water. The immediate water shortage in these areas can be resolved with the provision of six water-tankers that can take water from the filtering station and deliver it to the periphery areas of the city. The Government also requested ten submersible pumps and 10 25 kVA generators to solve the immediate water shortage.

Food Assistance

16. The third priority is food assistance. Kassala is an agricultural area and the majority of the population depends on daily wages from agricultural activities. The flooding of agricultural lands for three consecutive days has left thousands of labourers temporarily jobless. The Mission observed that apparently significant but unknown quantities of food items donated by the neighbouring regions and states of Gedaref, Gezira and Red Sea State are arriving in Kassala city. The resumption of food supply from outside Kassala city -- after two days of disruption due to road closures -- has also improved the availability of food commodities in the markets. The markets appear to be functioning normally and no reports of food shortages or price gouging were forthcoming. However, there may still be a need for additional food aid, but it should be a targeted distribution.

17. In this context, a detailed rapid assessment of the affected areas is being undertaken to identify the most vulnerable populations requiring food assistance. If food need is identified, the most vulnerable people will be registered and targeted for WFP's food assistance. Existing WFP food stocks in Kassala will be used for initial response.

Health and Sanitation

18. There are several issues that require immediate assistance when it comes to sanitation and health. Destroyed outdoor latrines and overflow of its contents along with stagnant water ponds are breeding grounds for several infectious outbreaks such as cholera, diarrhoea, and malaria. Without adequate shelter and potable water, the population will invariably become more vulnerable to weather conditions and to water borne diseases.

19. The hospital has been flooded and is only partially functioning. So far no information is available regarding the number of health facilities damaged. The health situation is expected to rapidly deteriorate within the coming 2-3 days. The city does not have adequate supply of vaccinations against some of these diseases that are bound to occur particularly in the children. Suction pumps, spraying guns, and insecticides are also needed to improve sanitation and minimise the risk of malaria.

20. The first convoys of food aid, medicine and other emergency items reached Kassala on 1 August and were contributed by neighbouring states, the private sector, charity organisations, NGOs and UN agencies. The provision of healthcare service professionals is also necessary because the limited healthcare infrastructure of the city is already under stress. Some well-publicised vaccination campaigns and mobile healthcare units will be useful to mitigate or even prevent some of the disease outbreaks.

STRENGTHENING THE RIVER BANKS

21. The Mission recommends that in addition to addressing the immediate humanitarian needs emerging from the recent events, immediate actions should be undertaken to solve the structural issues leading to the flooding of the Kassala city in the very first place. The flooding season for river Gash has started one month earlier and will continue for another three months (October). Given the rainfall predictions in the Eritrean highlands, it is very likely that if the dykes are not immediately strengthened, more flooding will occur during this season. The humanitarian consequences of the next flooding will be much more difficult to mitigate because the financial resources at the state level are already exhausted.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

Water and Sanitation

• Five water tankers to provide water to the most critically affected residential areas;
  
  
• Water treatment facilities including filtration, chlorination and purification for an additional 150,000 people;
  
  
• 10 submersible pumps to rehabilitate 10 deep boreholes in the periphery of the town;
  
  
• 10 bladders and other types of water reservoirs to provide water to a minimum of 20,000 people per day;
  
  
• Insecticides and spraying and fogging machines for the prevention of a malaria outbreak and other environmental hazards;
  
  
• Dig pit latrines wherever possible and required, and rehabilitate existing ones.

Shelter

• 7,000 tents (4X4) and plastic sheeting to accommodate an estimated number of 100,000 persons.

Health

• Health awareness campaigns along with garbage collection from the streets;
  
  
• Emergency preparedness to immediately respond to a possible outbreak of epidemics and other diseases.

Other needs/contingency planning

While delivering life-saving assistance to the populations at risk, a comprehensive needs assessment should be carried out in order to:

• Identify other vulnerable pockets that may have been inaccessible;
  
  
• Assess the most critical needs of the relocated population;
• Analyse the water quality and level of contamination;
  
  
• Advise on the relocation of the affected population to safer

Immediate preventive measures including the construction of new embankments and dikes, in order to keep the water from flowing over the banks and prevent further flooding of residential areas.

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