SITUATION REPORT BIHAR FLOODS OVERALL SITUATION

Continuous rainfall in the catchment areas of major rivers (Mahananda, Kosi, Kamla , Adhwara group of rivers, Bagmati, Kankai, Donk, Mecchi, Ratua and Bakra) and its tributaries both in Bihar and adjoining country Nepal is causing the prevailing flood situation in seven districts in Bihar. Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Purnia and Kishanganj are the affected districts so far according to official sources. Media reports state that 11 districts are aff ected by the floods which include West Champaran, Saharsa, Supaul and Gopalganj in addition (see map below). According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, 1,246,000 people have been affected in the state and 32 human lives have been lost . Media reports stat e that more that 1.5 million people have been affected and 52 human lives have been lost. Official reports state that 8,100 people have been evacuated . As per water resource department, government of Bihar, rivers such as Kosi, Bagmati, Mahananda, Kamala Balan and Adhwara group of rivers are in spate following heavy rains in their catchment areas , river levels are as follows: River Bagmati is flowing marginally above danger mark in district Muzaffarpur and Darbhanga with falling trend River Kosi is flowi ng marginally above danger mark in districts Khagaria and Supaul with falling trend River Mahananda, Kamla, Gandak, Burhi Gandak and Adwara group of rivers are flowing marginally below the danger mark.

DISTRICT MAP OF BIHAR

District map of Bihar (affected district s in red)

Sit Rep Bihar Floods3 Sept 2009

DAMAGE DETAILS
As of 31 August, the official damage details are as follows: Population affected: 1,246,000 No. of human lives lost: 32 No. of districts affected: 7 No. of villages affected: 915 No. of livestock/ cattle lost: 2 Cropped area affected (in ha): 0.36 No. of houses damaged (fully): 365 No. of houses damaged (partially):2,144 Name of affected districts Darbhanga Katihar Madhubani Sitamarhi Muzaffarpur Kishanganj Purnea Name of affected blocks Jale, Singhwara, Ghanshayampur, Keoti, Kusheshwersthan (East and West), Biraul Kadwa, Pranpur and Amdabad Madhepur, Bisfi and Madhwapur Runisaidpur Katra, Auria, Gayaghat Dighalbank Krityanandnagar, Baisi, Baisa, Amour, Dagarwa

GOVERNMENT RESPONSE
As of 31 August, the government response is as follows: No. of people evacuated: 8,100 No. of health centres opened: 146 No. of boats deployed: 1 ,205 boats (148 Government, 1 ,058 Private and 1 Motor Boat ) 03 coys (01 coy each in Darbhanga, Saharsa & Begusarai) & 01 team (Bihta -01) consisting of 190 personnel alongwith equipment have been deployed in the districts. In the last one week, the chief minister of Bihar has conducted aerial survey of flood hit areas twice while the Governor of Bihar did an aerial survey once. District administration in all the affected distri cts has been asked to provide all possible relief support to the flood affected population . The Government has provided relief material to the flood affected districts as follows: Wheat 1 ,802.5 Quintals (Qtls), Rice 1,614.25 Qtls, Chura (beaten rice) 372. 63 Qtls, Gur 62.38 Qtls, Khichari 31 Qtls, tarpaulin sheets 5,885, Kerosene oil 4 ,108 lts and cash distribution US $ 12 ,896.

UN RESPONSE
UNICEF: UNICEF had prepositioned emergency supplies in eight most vulnerable districts of Bihar including Madhubani, Sitamar hi, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga and East Champaran in the m onth of June and July this year. Based on the request from the district administration, emergency supplies prepositioned by UNICEF viz. life jackets, Halozone tablets, Bleaching powder, ORS sachet, tar paulin sheets, hygiene kits, emergency health kits, mid-wifery kits etc. have been deployed in flood affected areas in Muzaffarpur and Sitamarhi districts. UNICEF also supported PHED in district Sitamarhi through trained volunteers, and WES supplies for repairing and treatment of drinking water sources (more than 700 hand pumps). In close coordination with PHED, UNICEF partner N GO distributed 1,000 hygiene kits to the flood affected population in 10 affected villages of district Sitamarhi. A week long aware ness campaign was conducted with the trained animators focusing on safe WASH practices in these villages. UNICEF has provided 30,000 Halozone tablets and 60 bags of Bleaching powder for flood activities in 30 villages of district Darbhanga . UNICEF has o ngoing Community Based Disaster Ris k Reduction (CBDRR) project in f ive districts Madhubani, Darbhanga, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Samastipur. There are few project villages in

Sit Rep Bihar Floods3 Sept 2009

these districts which have been affected due to floods. Some of the initi atives taken by the community themselves are as follows: o Vigilance of weak part of embankments & protection by using bamboo and sand o Helping affected population for giving early warning and facilitating movement through inflatable boats provided by UNICEF o Distribution of ORS sachet for diarrhoea management Community based organisations viz. Village Disaster Management Committees (VDMCs) and task forces have got into action in affected villages under CBDRR project and performing their roles on early warni ng using megaphone and inflatable boats, helping affected population by providing locally available chlorine tablets, ORS sachet etc . UNICEF partners in five affected districts are in close coordination with block and district administration and monitoring the situation.

SOURCES & CONTACT DETAILS

Sources : Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Central Water Commission (CWC) NDM Division, Ministry of Home Affairs UNICEF Sit Rep No. 5, Bihar Floods For Further Information contact : Mr. G. Padmanabhan Emergency Analyst, UNDP Email: g.padmanabhan@undp.org Mobile: +91 98104 02937 Ms. Shairi Mathur UN Disaster Management Team Associate Email: shairi.mathur@undp.org Mobile : +91 98107 23192 http://www.un.org.in/UNDMT/home.htm

Sit Rep Bihar Floods3 Sept 2009