Ref: OCHA/GVA -2001/0111
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Syria - Collapse of Dam/floods
6 June 2002
Situation
1. As of 5 June in the evening, it is estimated that twenty people lost their lives and four were declared missing after the collapse of the Zeyzoun dam and the subsequent discharge of some 70 million cubic meters of water. It is reported that much of the flood water receded and efforts of searching for survivors and cleaning up the mud have been underway.
2. While the extent of damage remains unclear, the media reported that 140 houses in Zeyzoun and some 60 km2 of farmland along the Orontes river were submerged.
National and International Response
3. Prime Minister instructed to establish a Technical Emergency Committee to respond to the disaster. Prime Minister himself visited the Ghab region 300 km north of Damascus for coordination of relief efforts. According to the media, the Government indicated that the victims of the disaster who lost their family members and who lost their properties would be compensated. Helicopters from the Air Force flew over the affected area in search and rescue of victims.
4. A UN Inter-Agency mission will visit the affected areas in the afternoon of 6 June 2002 to assess the damage. Participating agencies are as follows: FAO, WFP, WHO, UNDOF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR and UNICEF.
5. OCHA has deployed a five-member UNDAC team to Syria to assist the UN Resident Coordinator and local emergency management authorities in the support of damage assessment and emergency relief activities. The team is led by OCHA with participation of the members from Finland, Germany and the Netherlands.
6. OCHA remains in contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Syria, and will revert with further information when available.
7. This situation report, together with information on other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int
Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org
In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10
Desk Officers:
Mr. J. McGoldrick/Ms. H. Kuttab
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 17 12/3194
Press contact:
(in GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(in N.Y.) - Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32