Oxfam staff will evaluate the humanitarian needs, including water and health systems, and will consult with the Red Cross and Peruvian Government humanitarian response unit. Oxfam will then offer the appropriate level of humanitarian support.
Celia Aldana, spokesperson for Oxfam International in Peru said: "We are going to focus on the southern areas which are the most affected. It is really hard to tell what the full affect is, as communications are very patchy and many areas are cut off by landslides and collapsed bridges. The local media are reporting that many people are arriving in the cities from the countryside seeking help."
"I have lived through four earthquakes and can remember three of them but this has been the worst of all. The tremors lasted for minutes and were terrible. However, despite this, the damage in Lima doesn't at the moment appear to be too bad. The damage in the south is much worse"
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Statement from Oxfam America's Francisco Boeren, Deputy Director of Oxfam America's South America Regional Office in Lima.
LIMA — As aftershocks continued to hit the south of Peru, international aid agency Oxfam has arrived in the epicenter of the crisis to assess its emergency response, which will aim to provide urgent relief such as clean water for city-dwellers displaced by the earthquake and for those who are caught in remote rural areas.
Oxfam's humanitarian officer in Peru, Sergio Alvarez, today traveled to the worst hit zone, including the city of Pisco and the surrounding rural areas—which he reached on foot—and carried out an initial assessment of the devastation. More Oxfam staff including a water engineer will travel this afternoon to Pisco, a city of nearly 120,000 inhabitants. Some 665,000 people live in the wider affected region.
Alvarez said: "It is impossible to get to Pisco from Lima. The San Clemente Bridge that links Pisco with the Pan American highway has collapsed.
"All the adobe buildings in Pisco have collapsed. The modern buildings are fine. The Peruvian Civil Defense has told me that they calculate that at least 50% of the houses in Pisco have collapsed. San Andres, in Cañete, has also suffered a great amount of destruction.
"There are people trapped in their houses, and Pisco's San Clemente church collapsed while mass was underway. The news I'm receiving is that there are many dead bodies. Rescue operations are now underway but fire trucks and other rescue vehicles coming from Lima weren't able to reach the area until 11 am this morning due to the collapsed bridge. They were stuck about one and a half hours away from Pisco but are now in the area and have so far rescued six people trapped under rubble.
"Local authorities are asking for help, particularly with the distribution of medicines, tents and blankets, as many people have lost their homes. The distribution of tents has yet to be organized and there is no electricity or running water in the area. The situation is desperate, especially for those people who survived but who have lost their homes.
"Oxfam is especially worried about people in the rural areas because their houses are extremely vulnerable and they are harder to reach."
Oxfam works with partners in the area affected by the earthquake. In 2001, Oxfam responded to the earthquake in Arequipa, providing water and shelters.
The poorest areas are the ones that consistently suffer the most during and after a natural disaster. In Peru, more than 72% of those in rural areas are living below the poverty line. 49% of the general population lives below the poverty line and almost 32% of the population lives on less than $2 per day.
]]>Heavy rains are forecast to continue in the region this week, threatening to worsen the situation of up to 285,000 people living in vulnerable areas.
Oxfam will provide 14 tons of water, sanitation and hygiene equipment.
A plane will leave the East Midlands airport in the UK at 12 noon on Thursday 15 February and is expected to arrive in Beira, in Mozambique, on Friday, with enough equipment to provide for the needs of 25 000 people. Water pumps, water containers, pipes, water treatment chemicals, jerry cans for water collection, buckets, 1,000 bed nets and 2,000 hygiene kits will be on board.
“As flood levels keep rising our main concern is the lack of clean water and sanitation facilities in many of the evacuation centres where up to 70,000 people are taking shelter. In these conditions the threat of diarrhoea, malaria and cholera needs to be addressed immediately,” explained Fabio Fussi, head of Oxfam’s humanitarian response in Mozambique.
The floods along the river Zambezi have cut off many communities, making access difficult for government and humanitarian agencies. The most affected areas are the provinces of Tete, Sofala, Manica and Zambezia. Oxfam teams are now in Caia (6,500 displaced people) ready to start the installation of emergency water systems and sanitation facilities as soon as possible.
"There are 1,900 people living in this camp in very basic conditions. They are mainly women and children, who were evacuated by boat and couldn’t take much with them,” said Caroline Hooper Box, an Oxfam aid worker in the Chupanga evacuation camp.
“Many men have stayed behind to look after the livestock, but crops may be more difficult to save” Hooper Box added. “The maize fields we saw while driving here are flooded. We could only see the heads of the maize sticking out of the water.”
]]>Altogether 20 million people in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal have been affected by flooding in the current monsoon, forcing many from their homes.
"Across the region people are struggling to cope with what is for many the worst flooding in living memory,” said Ashvin Dayal, head of Oxfam in South Asia. “Millions of the very poorest have lost their homes, their possessions, and their livelihoods. Thanks to good preparation we have responded quickly and saved lives, but people desperately need our help to get back on their feet again.”
Last week, Oxfam and its partners in Bihar, northern India, managed to rescue stranded villagers using 20 small boats they had ready as part of their disaster contingency plan for the flood-prone area. The groups have also tapped their emergency stocks to provide essential household items and temporary shelter for displaced people.
Oxfam has been working on village-level flood preparedness with local authorities in all the three countries. In Nepal, for instance, preparedness has meant that people’s raised homesteads have not been flooded and their raised drinking water sources, such as tube-wells, are still safe. This is true for many prepared villagers in Bangladesh and India too.
"These floods show how important it is for governments and the international community to be prepared for when disasters strike,” said Dayal. “Today we are providing emergency aid for those who have lost everything. In the long term we must work with local authorities to help vulnerable people in the flood-prone areas of India, Bangladesh, and Nepal to cope with increasingly erratic and unpredictable weather."
Oxfam is currently responding to this and more than 30 other emergencies around the world. To make it possible for Oxfam to respond to emergencies and work to overcome poverty and suffering, you can make a donation to our Global Emergencies Fund.
]]>According to initial reports, there has been massive destruction of homes, crops, and livestock, although the death toll was low. Power and communications have been totally disrupted by the cyclone, which swept up from the Bay of Bengal on the evening of November 15th with wind speeds of up to 150 mph.
Before the cyclone struck, around 1,000 volunteers from Oxfam’s Bangladeshi partner organizations helped to evacuate villagers.
Today, Oxfam is coordinating and sharing information with the Bangladeshi government. The aid agency has two teams assessing the damage caused by the cyclone, which is the largest to hit Bangladesh since 1991, when a cyclone killed 138,000 people.
Heather Blackwell, Head of Oxfam International in Bangladesh, said, “Many of Bangladesh’s poorest people live on sandbanks in the river delta, which can be easily flooded by tidal surges. A cyclone this strong can literally wash away the sandbanks and mainland areas, forcing families to abandon their homes, livestock and crops. The storm is so strong that many of those living farther inland could also be seriously affected.
“Working through local Bangladeshi organizations, we have sent hundreds of volunteers around the affected districts to warn and evacuate people.
“Over the last few years we have helped hundreds of villages to prepare for floods and tropical storms. Simple measures, such as having an evacuation plan and giving enough warning of approaching storms, can really save lives.
“The Bangladeshi government has also been proactive in issuing early warnings and evacuating coastal areas, and we are working closely with them on the relief effort.”
]]>In a report released today called Sink or Swim: Why Disaster Risk Reduction is central to surviving floods in South Asia, Oxfam says that some flood defenses, such as the construction of river embankments, can make matters worse. In India’s worse hit area, Bihar, embankments have nearly tripled the flood-prone area from 2.5 million hectares to 6.9 million hectares in the last 50 years. In Nepal, culverts and embankments have obstructed the flow of waters causing major floods and, in Bangladesh, an estimated 75 embankments were breached in one month alone during the current floods.
“This year’s flood is a wake up call for South Asia’s governments. Current flood policies are not working and in some cases are exacerbating the problem. Simple, proven and affordable solutions are available. They are needed now but will be needed even more in the future as climate change increases the probability of such extreme weather events,” said Ashvin Dayal, Oxfam’s head for South Asia.
Oxfam, which has launched emergency South Asian flood appeals in India, Australia, Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Spain, New Zealand, Quebec, Canada, US and the UK, said that relatively small amounts of investment, compared with economic loses and the cost of flood responses, could make significant impact on people’s ability to cope better.
Oxfam said that a number of policies should be implemented. For South Asian governments they included:
For the international community:
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"We at Oxfam join housing advocates across the Gulf Coast region in commending the House for its bi-partisan vote,” said Raymond C. Offenheiser, president of Oxfam America. “This milestone legislation takes steps to help ensure the most vulnerable survivors are not left behind in the region’s recovery. We urge the Senate to follow suit and prioritize swift passage of the Housing Recovery Act to help Gulf Coast residents who have already waited too long.”
Housing advocates throughout the Gulf Coast region celebrated a major victory yesterday, having played a key role in bringing the continuing housing crisis in the Gulf to federal lawmakers’ attention.
“Groups on the coast rallied in favor of this bill because we know what a difference it could make in steering the recovery in a more equitable direction. We are grateful to the congressional representatives who heard our voices and voted to support this”, said Natalie Presley of Mississippi’s Back Bay Mission. “We call on the Senate to follow the example of the House and pass this legislation swiftly.”
In early March, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee Chair Rep. Maxine Waters (D. - CA) and other members visited Gulfport, MS and New Orleans, LA to learn more about the rebuilding challenges faced by Coast residents. The Committee heard testimony from a host of community advocates, including members of the Mississippi Steps Coalition (an alliance of organizations serving hurricane survivors), as well as from elected officials such as Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.
Upon their return to Washington, Waters and the House Financial Services Committee moved rapidly to craft a bill responsive to the needs identified by Gulf Coast residents. The new legislation includes measures that will protect rights of public housing residents—including the right to return—and restore some rental housing for disabled, homeless, and the elderly. Importantly, it also increases oversight over hurricane recovery spending in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, requiring regular progress reports from the states and initiating a GAO study.
Phone calls and letters to elected officials poured in from throughout the Gulf Coast to express support for the bill and a few strategic amendments. A last minute push by members of the Steps Coalition helped solidify support for an important amendment offered by Texas Congressman Al Green to extend FEMA trailers and disaster vouchers through the end of 2007. Residents who are eligible for Section 8 assistance, either in trailers or apartments, can transition to a Section 8 apartment after the deadline is up.
]]>The appeal comes as the scale of devastation and necessary relief effort becomes apparent. Hundreds of thousands of Bangladeshis are returning to their homes to find complete ruin: an estimated 273,000 homes have been lost, crops are damaged, and there are increasing water and sanitation concerns.
"The scale of this disaster is enormous," said Heather Blackwell, head of Oxfam in Bangladesh. "Up to three million people are affected. We are seeing families who have lost everything. We urgently need the public’s support to help us save and rebuild people's lives."
Oxfam has been working with local partners since Cyclone Sidr struck on Thursday, with teams in the worst-hit southern districts of Daerhat, Pirojpur, Barguna and Patuakhali assessing and providing urgent relief such as sanitation and food and water. The money raised will be used to continue to provide immediate relief to over 80,000 people - essential sanitation, food and water, shelter, well and latrine cleaning, and debris clearing, as well as helping people get back on their feet.
One of the world's poorest countries, Bangladesh has already faced huge damage from severe floods in July.
"People here are resilient," said Blackwell. "However, the scale is such that it will take months for people to be able to return to their normal lives. With an estimated 75 per cent of crops in the southern region destroyed, this disaster will require a long-term relief effort. Oxfam will be here working with our partners in months to come."
In addition to saving lives, Oxfam’s response intends to reduce risk for the future. The agency is concerned that with an increase in global warming, natural disasters such as the one that has hit Bangladesh are becoming more frequent.
"We have seen an unprecedented number of disasters this year and we have seen time and time again that the world's poorest people are being hit the hardest. The public have responded generously this year. We need them to dig deep again as we scale up our crucial work here."
]]>LIMA — Upon the completion of its humanitarian needs assessment in southern Peru, international aid agency Oxfam has today reported that thousands of people living in rural areas urgently need all forms of aid.
Over the course of the next several days, Oxfam will provide immediate assistance, including shelter, clean water and sanitation services, to some 2,000 families in some of the remotest areas hit by the earthquake.
"The areas outside of Pisco have also been devastated," said Sergio Alvarez, Humanitarian Lead for Oxfam International in Peru. "The urban areas are being better attended but the rural areas and the city's outskirts have received very little attention so far."
On Friday, the Oxfam team also traveled to rural areas close to Ica, visiting seven communities.
"Our assessment team went as far as they could on the highway, until we found that it was blocked by part of a hill that had fallen onto the road. We saw many people walking in search of food and met others who were trying to walk to the highest Andean communities, because they have had no news about the fate of their relatives," said Alvarez.
In two towns, Humay and Montesierpe, all homes have totally collapsed.
"Only a few communities have water wells which means they will not have water even when electricity comes back," said Alvarez. "The other main concern is that these villages are running out of food, and as of now, they are receiving very little or no aid at all".
The assessment team also found that while some rural communities have been able to find some water by walking to rivers or small streams, it is unclean and drinking it may lead to disease.
According to Alvarez: "Although aid is thankfully beginning to reach the center of Pisco, the large population living farther away remains virtually stranded by the outside world. The longer they are without clean water, the more likely that potentially life-threatening disease will spread."
"Also, we have not seen any latrines being built in Pisco itself. Families are using toilets that aren't functioning. This further increases the possibilities of public health issues and is one of Oxfam's main concerns."
The poorest areas are the ones that consistently suffer the most during and after a natural disaster. In Peru, 49% of the population lives below the poverty line and almost 32% of the population lives on less than $2 per day.
Oxfam America is accepting donations through its Peru Earthquake Relief and Recovery Fund.
]]>The massive loss and damage to crops—estimated at between fifty and ninety-five per cent in coastal zones—will have immediate and long-term devastating effects on the country.
Bangladesh already lost crops in northern and central areas after severe floods in July. Oxfam fears the combined impact of these two disasters on one of the world’s poorest countries could be massive.
The cyclone damaged power and communications networks, killed livestock, and caused tidal surges that swept away scores of people.
Oxfam assessment teams have found people are returning to their homes from the evacuation shelters, only to find their houses are devastated. They have been assembling makeshift housing from the debris or sleeping in the open air.
Oxfam, through our Bangladeshi partner organizations, has started delivering aid in some of the worst-affected districts in southern Bangladesh. Our assessments show immediate needs are dry food, shelter, clothes, and water and sanitation facilities.
Heather Blackwell, head of Oxfam in Bangladesh, said, “There are many villages in remote areas, including on sandbank islands, that are yet to be reached. We don’t know the losses sustained in those regions. It could take weeks before we know exactly how bad this cyclone was.
“Access to the areas hit by the cyclone is very difficult: a car journey that normally takes five hours took an Oxfam team a day and a half to do because of debris and road damage.
“The last time a cyclone this strong hit Bangladesh, in 1991, over 138,000 people were killed. Since then the government, aid agencies, and local organizations have worked hard to help people prepare for disasters, and this is reflected in the much lower death toll.
“Scientists have predicted that extreme weather events like this cyclone are going to become more common due to global warming. The world’s poorest people—such as those living in Bangladesh—will be hit the hardest. It’s vital that the rich world take steps to reduce its carbon emissions and provide money to help poor countries deal with the effects of climate change.”
]]>So far 120,000 people have already been displaced by flooding and the cyclone, which is forecast to hit Mozambique on Thursday, could make delivering aid to those people even harder.
“Cyclone Favio could hit regions which are more populated than those recently flooded in west and central Mozambique. Significantly more people could be affected, with more suffering for the 120,000 people already displaced and further difficulties getting aid to those in need,” said Fabio Fussi, head of Oxfam’s humanitarian response in Mozambique.
Weather forecasters expect more heavy rain though to the middle of next week, which may hamper aid efforts already in place. Oxfam has already flown 14 tons of aid to Mozambique and is providing clean water to 6,000 people sheltering in Chupanga, a camp close to Caia, in one of the most affected areas in central Mozambique. The team is preparing to provide clean water to another five camps in the coming days.
Oxfam has also distributed cooking sets, mosquito nets, blankets, buckets and plastic sheeting to build rain covers for 600 families. It is building an average of 12 latrines a day to reduce the risk of cholera.
Oscar Samso, Oxfam aid worker in the Chupanga evacuation camp said: “When we arrived in the camp one week ago there were just four latrines for 2,500 people, and army rescue boats were bringing more and more men, women and children every day. They have been arriving in Chupanga at a rate of 1,500 a day. We have to help them immediately as they couldn’t bring anything with them. Poor families affected by the floods will need aid for at least five months, as they have lost the crops they were due to harvest next month.”
The Mozambique government is responding to the crisis with quick evacuations and improved levels of co-ordination among authorities and aid agencies.
“It is good to see that the Government is taking into account many of the lessons learnt in 2000 and 2001, when the country suffered one of its worst floods in history. We are now facing a very serious disaster that could get much worse, but at the moment the response is saving many lives,” said Fussi.
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