UNITED NATIONS ASSESSING DAMAGES AFTER COSTA RICAN FLOODS

 

NEW YORK, 20 January (OCHA) -- Today and tomorrow, the World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are undertaking field visits to Talamanca, Costa Rica, to assess damages and needs after recent flooding.

Heavy rains that started on 7 January affecting the entire Caribbean coast and the northern area of Costa Rica have caused flooding in 11 cantons.  By 11 January more than 6,000 people had been evacuated.  According to the report issued by the National Emergency Commission on 18 January, 2,143 persons are still in temporary shelters and four people lost their lives.  Damage to infrastructure is significant, with houses, sewage systems, aqueducts, health clinics, schools, roads, bridges and dykes affected.

Talamanca, with a population of 29,300, is the most affected area with 1,907 persons in 19 temporary shelters.  According to the national authorities, the health sector requires assistance for damaged hospitals and clinics in addition to rehabilitating aqueducts and sewage systems and cleaning contaminated wells.  The Ministry of Health has requested various relief items for Talamanca.

The Government of Costa Rica declared a national emergency on 11 January.  The United Nations Disaster Management Team met on 19 January to exchange information on the effects of the disaster and available relief supplies and contributions, and to coordinate current response activities.  The Disaster Management Team is in constant communication with national authorities.  The WHO/PAHO brought in an international expert to assess damages to clinics and hospitals in Daytona and Home Creek in Talamanca.  The WHO/PAHO is assisting the national authorities and the Costa Rican Red Cross in delivery of humanitarian assistance through SUMA.  The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is preparing a mission to the affected areas in the second week of February to assess the damages to agriculture.

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