From: Global Volcanism Network
Subject: Nicaragua: Volcano DHA-02
Date: Fri, 8 Dec 95 10:40:59 EST
NICARAGUA - VOLCANIC ERUPTION
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO.2
8 DECEMBER 1995
1. PROLONGED VOLCANIC ACTIVITY AND EMISSION OF ASH AND LAVA CAUSED
SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO FARMLAND AROUND CERRO NEGRO. LOCAL UNITED NATIONS
DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM WHICH VISITED AFFECTED AREA ASCERTAINED THAT
PEOPLE EVACUATED TO TEMPORARY SHELTERS HAD FOOD FOR ONE WEEK ONLY AND
LACKED BASIC RELIEF SUPPLIES SUCH AS BLANKETS, MATS AND KITCHEN TOOLS FOR
COOKING. AS DISASTER AFFECTED POOR FARMERS WITH THEIR FAMILIES IN THE MIDST
OF HARVESTING, EMERGENCY FOOD ASSISTANCE WILL BE REQUIRED UNTIL NEXT SOWING
AND HARVESTING SEASON (FROM APRIL TO AUGUST 1996).
2. AT PRESENT ASH EXPLOSIONS HAVE CEASED AND VOLCANO ENTERED
PHASE OF LOW ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, LAVA FLOW CONTINUES TOWARDS NORTH
AT SPEED OF 50 METRES PER HOUR. SWISS DISASTER RELIEF UNIT IN
COOPERATION WITH GENEVA UNIVERSITY DISPATCHED TWO EXPERTS FOR
ASSESSING STRUCTURAL AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY. THEY ARE COOPERATING
WITH NATIONAL AND UNITED STATES EXPERTS IN MEASURING VOLCANIC
ACTIVITY AND PLACING INSTRUMENTS FOR SEISMIC DATA.
3. DHA EMERGENCY GRANT OF USDLRS 50,000 BEING USED FOR
IMMEDIATE PURCHASES OF BLANKETS, MATS, KITCHEN SETS AND FOOD
(LIMITED QUANTITIES OF SUGAR AND MILK). GOVT RENEWS APPEAL FOR
INTERNATIONAL CASH ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROVISION OF:
QUANTITY UNIT DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
MEASUREMENT (US$)
100 UNITS WHEEL BARROWS 5,000
1,000 UNITS PROTECTIVE CAPS, BROOMS
AND BRUSHES 2,050
400 PAIRS PROTECTIVE EYE-GLASSES
(GOGGLES) 1,750
300 BOXES DUST FILTERS (MASKS) 10,313
400 PAIRS GLOVES 3,250
52.4 MT RICE 28,800
23 METRIC TONS BEANS 20,663
4921 LITRES OIL 5,535
52.4 METRIC TONS MAIZE 11,520
13.3 METRIC TONS POWDERED MILK 73,000
988 BOXES SOAP 7,000
6.5 METRIC TONS SALT 450
38.5 TONS SUGAR 21,200
3980 GALLONS DIESEL OIL 5,500
TOTAL 196,031
4. ALL THESE ITEMS CAN BE PROCURED LOCALLY OR IN THE REGION.
5. NATIONAL AUTHORITIES COPING WITH THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY
SITUATION. FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE CONTACT THE EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS AND DISASTER RELIEF COORDINATION PROGRAM, PAN AMERICAN
HEALTH ORGANIZATION, PAHO/WHO, WASHINGTON D.C. (FAX NO. + 202 775
45 78).
6. INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT
SOCIETIES (IFRC) AND NICARAGUAN RED CROSS HAVE DISPATCHED A
DELEGATE TO THE AFFECTED AREA TO MAKE PLAN OF ACTION FOR REDCROSS
AS APPROPRIATE.
7. GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKING EFFORTS TOWARDS PROMOTING PERMANENT
RELOCATION OF THE AFFECTED PEOPLE FROM THE AREAS SURROUNDING THE
VOLCANO, WHICH HAS UNDERGONE OTHER ERUPTIONS IN RECENT DECADES.
INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO SECOND THESE EFFORTS IN REHABILITATION
PHASE AND TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF CONVERTING THE AFFECTED AREA
INTO A NATIONAL PARK WOULD BE WELCOME (CONTACT SHOULD BE
ESTABLISHED WITH OFFICE OF UNDP RESIDENT CO-REPRESENTATIVE IN
MANAGUA (FAX. NO. + 505 2 666 909).
8. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS
TO BE USED DURING IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN
COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS OF U.N. SYSTEM, AND DHA
PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION ON UTILIZATION
OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED. FUNDS SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO DHA ACCOUNT
NO. CO-590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770,
CH-1211 GENEVA 2, WITH REFERENCE: NICARAGUA/VOLCANIC ERUPTION.
9. FOR CO-ORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM
DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF BILATERAL RELIEF
MISSIONS/PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY
ITEM.
TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917.12.34
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS):
+41-22-917.20.10
DESK OFFICER: FABRIZIO GENTILONI, DIRECT TEL:
+41-22-917.35.12
PRESS TO CONTACT:
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET DIALCOM 141: DHAGVA
DPR 310 NIC'95 (1)
= DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS +
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