(Post by CAAI News Media)
Date: 03 Oct 2009
Full Report (pdf format - 758.4 Kbytes)
GLIDE TC-2009-000205-KHM
This bulletin is being issued for information only and reflects the current situation and details available at this time. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation. The Cambodian Red Cross and the Lao Red Cross will, however, accept direct assistance to provide support to the affected population.
Typhoon Ketsana, proving to be one of the most destructive typhoons in recent years, continued its path of destruction across Southeast Asia on Wednesday, 30 September, flattening houses and collapsing infrastructure in both Cambodia and Lao PDR, after submerging 80 per cent of Metro Manila in the Philippines, and wrecking life and property across central Viet Nam.
Ketsana continued into Cambodia, striking Kampong Thom, hardest by razing many home in the five districts of Sandan, Baray, Santouk, Balang and Sambo.
Neighbouring Lao PDR also did not escape the fury of Ketsana. Lao Red Cross assessments indicate that many areas in Savannakhet, Saravan, Sekong and Attapeu and other provinces in the south were affected by floods. To date, Lao Red Cross has stated that up to 16 people are reported dead while 143 are missing. At least 37,500 people have been displaced due to flash flooding caused by Ketsana. Lao Red Cross branch volunteers and staff continue to help evacuate people to safer sites.
The International Federation is currently in the process of applying for disaster relief emergency funding (DREF) to support operations in Cambodia.
The situation
In Cambodia, Typhoon Ketsana struck the northern part of the country on the evening of 29 September, causing destruction in several provinces including Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Siem Reap and Orddor Mean Chey, Mondulkiri and Rattanakiri.
In the central province of Kampong Thom, at least 100 houses in five districts were flattened. These include 39 in Sandan district, 45 in Baray, 15 in Santouk, two in Balang, and two in Sambo. Up to 12 people are reported dead and 20 injured in Sandaan, with 18 injured in Baray.
Emergency response from the national headquarters and the Kampong Thom CRC branch provided emergency response the next day (30 September), especially in the hardest-hit district of Sandan. This included assistance to 39 families with cash, rice, tinned fish, instant noodles, sarong, krama, one mosquito net per family. Similar relief items were planned for distribution to the four other districts the next day.
In Preah Vihear, four districts are affected with Chhey Sen district the worst hit. To date, 1,026 families have been evacuated to safer ground. Up to 230 families in Khum Putrea, Chey Sen district bordering Roveang district were accessible by road and received aid in the form of tents (250 from local authority and 200 from Cambodian Red Cross), 25 kg of rice per family, 500 boxes of instant noodles, sarong, krama and mosquito nets. Rice and instant noodles constitute the primary need followed by mosquito nets, as the area is deemed malaria-endemic.
The CRC Preah Vihear branch is working in close cooperation with the provincial authority and has mobilized local resources for the response operation. Immediate needs in Preah Vihear are plastic sheets, drinking water, mosquito nets, and instant food items. Boats are needed for the evacuation of families and transport of relief items to beneficiaries.
In Rattanakiri, the five districts affected are Ondoung Meas, Lum Phat, Veun Say, Ta Veng and O Yadao. Most severely affected is Ondoung Meas, where 777 houses are damaged and 860 families evacuated. Access to these areas is highly precarious as water currents are still very strong. So far, three people are reported dead, and 10 houses collapsed. Damage assessments continue in these areas.
In Mondulkiri, an estimated four districts are affected. Despite relatively milder rain and wind, the access road to Kos Nhek district is sinking up to 0.5 metres at some points.
In Siem Reap province, the storm has abated. However, in Sot Nikum district, furious winds flattened 50 houses while in Angkor Thom district, one death and five injuries have been reported and eight houses destroyed. As field assessments are ongoing, fresh information from the field is expected over the next few days.
In Lao PDR, Lao Red Cross has identified six southern provinces that have been hard-struck by Ketsana. Up to 155,500 persons were directly affected, and 37,500 displaced. The national society has reported 16 dead, 143 missing and 120 injured. Lao Red Cross branches continue to help evacuate people to safer sites. To date, 3,500 people have received assistance from the national society with the help of 25 national staff and 120 volunteers.
The Lao Red Cross disaster management has informed the regional disaster management unit (RDMU) in Bangkok that present flooding in the country far exceeds the floods that occurred in August 2008. The government of Lao PDR has allocated about USD 120,000 (CHF or EUR) to assist those affected through the procurement of relief items.
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