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With the start of the rainy season the situation in Suriname is once
again critical. PAHO/WHO has donated rain water tanks, which have helped
in the collection of safe water and people have been trained in their
use. Water purification tablets have also been distributed to the population.
PAHO/WHO remains in close coordination with local authorities.
Situation Report
June, 2006
Rain Water Harvesting
With the rainy season, waters are rising again in the East of Suriname.
In some areas the situation is critical again. In the Ampomatapu area
people have sought a safe haven in French Guyana. Also parts of West Suriname,
such as the road to Blanche Marie have flooded. The National Coordination
Centre intends to continue food distribution. However, considering the
amounts of money associated with air transport, NCCR is looking for alternative
means of transportation by water and road.
Meanwhile, PAHO is going through the same process for the transportation
of rain water tanks. These tanks were bought by PAHO as response to the
need for safe drinking area in the affected areas. In addition to the
environmental consequences, it is not possible to supply the whole area
with bottled water. Rain water tanks can – especially in the rainy
season when there is enough rainfall – be a relatively safe way
of water catchments. To be able to ensure safe water all year long, the
project was complemented with the purchase of water purification tablets.
This way, even when there is a shortage of rain water, villagers will
be able to have water safe for drinking.
PAHO ordered the tanks after an assessment in the interior. PAHO environmental
health engineers looked at the most appropriate size of tanks, what kind
of material and how should they be installed. Based on this assessment,
they initially locally ordered 43 bottle shaped tanks of a high quality.
But as these tanks are not suitable for stacking up, transport is expensive.
The first 43 tanks were transported by air to the five hubs that were
established by the National Coordination Centre for Disaster Response.
This facilitated a fast response to immediate needs, but is a relative
expensive form of transportation as each airplane or helicopter could
only transport three or four tanks.
In the second phase of the project, 110 fully closed model tanks were
ordered from local stores. For the transportation of these tanks, more
efficient solutions were found. The tanks have been transported with trucks
to Albina (on the east end of Suriname), from where they will be taken
to the many small villages on the side of the river that runs from Albina
to Cottica on the Lawa, all the way south in the interior. And for once,
the extremely high water level has a benefit. Only in these circumstances
the big pontoon that is stationed in Albina can move on the river all
the way to the interior. The pontoon is big enough to accommodate 96 tanks.
With the aid of at least six small boats – the ‘korjalen’
that are commonly used for transport to the interior – the pontoon
with the tanks will be pushed upstream. These small boats will also be
filled with the fuel needed to push the pontoon all the way to Apotamoe.
In each village along the Marowijne, the pontoon will hold still to unload
a number of rain water tanks for the village. For each 30 villagers, one
tank is supplied.
To facilitate a good installation and adoption of the tanks by the village,
PAHO sought cooperation with the network of NGOs working in the interior
(het binnenland overleg) and the bestuursopzichters (government inspectors
in the area). Both the NGOs and the government inspectors have received
training from PAHO in installing the tanks and general water, sanitation
and hygiene. With their knowledge and skills they will train the villagers
that will use the tanks. 2 or 3 days before the pontoon with the rain
water tanks will moor in the village, the NGOs will be present to give
training and prepare the installation of the tanks. This will facilitate
a quick and proper use of rainwater in the flood affected area. NATIN,
the technical college in Suriname, has supported this process with the
development of standard drawings for the base on which the water tanks
need to be placed.
PAHO has been able to implement this project with funds that were supplied
by OFDA.
Situation Report
19 May
Rains continue to fall in Suriname causing the Marowijne River, which
is on the Eastern border with French Guiana, to rise to over 4.5 meters.
Food distribution to the affected areas are being coordinated by the National
Coordination Centre for Disasters (NCCR) using Dutch and Brazillian helicopters.
The NCCR is also following up on reports of neglected villages and mal-distribution
of supplies.
An assessment of the village at Grand Santi on the Marowijne River in
French Guyana reported 500 displaced persons from Suriname have arrived
and have joined a similar number of local maroons at the shelters there.
The shelter conditions are poor, with no food, water and communication.
The health centre at Stoelman Island on the Suriname side is receiving
people form the local area and from the French side. A team from PAHO
is to visit Stoelman Island and Grand Santi today.
In the south of Suriname, in the village of Tepou, there are reports
of diarrhea and upper respiratory cases among young children. A team from
PAHO / French Red Cross is to investigate today.
PAHO has purchased 25 water tanks and water purification tablets initially,
more tanks, as well as vaccines and cold chain supplies will be procured
for the Ministry of Health. PAHO has also mobilized technical advisors
to assist other national and international agencies in the relief work.
These experts participated in the UNDAC assessment team which is wrapping
up its mission to Suriname. They will continue to assist the Ministry
of Health in a wide range of public health programs, including reducing
the country’s vulnerability to disasters over the coming weeks.
Update on PAHO Operations
18 May
The management of logistics and the transport of goods to the interior
of Suriname is difficult, but the Suriname military has taken over much
of the logistics and distribution, aided by Brazilian and Dutch helicopters.
Food parcels are being distributed by the IFRC/Netherlands Red Cross.
Epidemiological surveillance reports are being received by radio from
a few sites and they are reporting primarily cases of diarrhea and upper
respiratory infections in children under five years of age. The numbers
are not different from last year’s figures.
Suriname’s National Coordination Centre for Disasters (NCCR) is
carrying out its responsibilities in a very transparent and beneficial
manner. Evening coordination meetings are attended by approximately 70
people, but attendance is decreasing.
PAHO plans and activities
1. Disease control and malaria
The Ministry of Health and the Medical Mission are working to reach a
consensus on health needs. In the meantime:
- Coartem (treatment for P. falciparum) and K-OTABS (will be purchased
to impregnate bed nets as protection against vectors).
- A plan has been made with the Ministry of Health to strengthen the
capacity of the epidemiology department by providing software, PCs,
training and field visits.
- 15,000 long-lasting impregnated nets for hammocks—provided by
the Global Fund—are being distributed. PAHO will order other specially
designed ones to meet the needs of the Maroon population in Suriname.
2. Water and sanitation
- PAHO/WHO is procuring plastic water tanks to collect rainwater. These
will be placed close to schools and clinics for communal use.
- Aquatabs (water purification) have arrived and will be provided primarily
to Amerindian villages, since they do not have individual water tanks.
They can use the chlorine tablets to purify creek water.
- The collection of empty plastic bottles and boxes from donated food
parcels are being collected and disposed of by the local military.
- Regarding disposal of excreta, at this moment, no attempt is being
made to change anything, because this is an enormous logistical problem
and an issue of education.
3. Coordination and logistics
PAHO/WHO continues to support Suriname’s NCCR and its Emergency
Operations Center (EOC). Access to high-speed Internet and other information
and communications technology continues to pose a problem and delay some
processes.
Health Situation Report
16 May
Diarrhea
The first cases of diarrhea (some in combination with vomiting) have
been confirmed, but according to the Health Crisis Team which is carefully
monitoring the situation, there is no outbreak at this moment. Each case
of diarrhea is reported to a special surveillance unit within the Health
Crisis Team. This team analyzes and compares the data with data from other
years and other areas so that informed judgments can be made.
Malaria
A small malaria outbreak has been detected in Asigron, near the Brokopondo
Lake. Suriname’s Director of Health, Dr. Marthelise Eersel, stresses
that this outbreak is not directly related to the flooding. However, the
risk of an outbreak is real and prevention and early treatment measures
are urgently needed. PAHO/WHO has prepared and submitted a proposal for
malaria control.
Water and Sanitation
The affected areas in Suriname are primarily populated by indigenous
groups that are accustomed to drinking rainwater. (In very dry seasons,
some villagers are forced to drink from the creeks or rivers, which usually
increases the number of diarrhea cases.) Some villagers have complained
about the smell and dirt in the river, which is most probably caused by
sediment, rotten food and garbage that was swept into the river by the
floods. In these circumstances, the best access to safe drinking water
is to collect rainwater. Distributing bottled water to the interior is
impractical, considering the costs and space needed to transport it to
these remote areas and the additional waste of plastic empty bottles that
stay in the environment.
The best alternative is to purify water on the spot. This is not only
a matter of technical concern. The cultures and habits of the population
are just as important. For example: will people actually drink water that
is purified with chlorine?
Ton Vlugman, PAHO water and sanitation engineer, has done a preliminary
assessment in the two affected areas. Fortunately, he found that most
villages are not short of rainwater at this moment. Sanitation however,
remains a problem. There is a clear need for good sanitation systems in
the area.
Response activities
National Disaster Coordination Centre
The National Coordination Centre has established five hubs from where
they continue to distribute food and hygiene packages (the latter donated
by the Red Cross Society). Purified water is also distributed, but not
in large quantities.
All volunteers, military staff and police going into the field are first
vaccinated for Hepatitis B and Yellow Fever. They also receive an impregnated
bed net and malaria prophylaxis. First aid responders being sent to the
field are also supplied with the necessary kits. Police and military have
been assisting in transporting sick people to the clinics run by the Medical
Mission, which are present in all areas.
Ministry of Health
 The
Surinamese Ministry of Health is working in the interior through the Medical
Mission, an old and successful system of small health clinics and local
health workers serving the approximately 37,000 people living in the interior.
These 52 clinics have already proven to be very successful in disease
monitoring and in providing updates on the general situation in the interior,
as there is daily radio contact from the Medical Mission Headquarters
with all the clinics.
All people in the interior commonly visit the health clinics of the Medical
Mission, even if they have to travel for hours on the river to get there.
Recently, travel to the clinics has become more complicated with roads
being flooded, limited availability of fuel and less boats available on
the river. Medical Mission has requested the National Coordination Centre
to assist in the transport of sick people to the clinics. Currently, all
52 clinics of the Medical Mission are operational again. Four of them
were flooded, but three of them managed to continue operations on higher
grounds.
The Ministry of Health formed a special crisis team to address occurring
and expected health concerns. This group meets daily to discuss emerging
issues regarding disease surveillance, medical supplies, water quality
issues and health communication.
A quick assessment of medical supplies on stock has just been finalized
and the Ministry of Health is preparing a request for medical supplies
that are needed to cope with emerging health threats related to the flooding
.
Pan American Health Organization
PAHO/WHO has actively supported the national response to the flooding
with the deployment of technical experts. The PAHO/WHO office in Suriname
has provided telecommunications and administrative support to the Emergency
Operations Centre. Now that systems are in place, PAHO/WHO is focusing
more on its core task of supporting the Ministry of Health in safeguarding
the health of the affected people by preparing concrete plans for improving
water and sanitation and for prevention for and response to malaria and
other communicable diseases.
Situation Report
15 May
Situation
Water levels in the upper Suriname area have started to recede. Water
levels in some villages in the East are still rising. The situation of
the displaced in these areas is serious as – unlike most displaced
in the upper Suriname area – it is more difficult to flee to higher
grounds in these areas. Many villages are built on small islands in the
river, which are now completely flooded. A member of the NGO network in
the interior reported to have registered 925 displaced families in this
area, some of them sleeping in the open air.
The transportion situation seems to have improved somewhat. The main
road to the south (to Atjoni) is currently being repaired. Also, all official
airports in the interior are accessesible again.
More rain is expected for the days to come, but for the most affected
areas no more then 30 mm of rainfall is expected.
As the number of displaced people in the eastern area is increasing,
there is a need for blankets and tents.
Relief assistance
Food packages have been delivered. Most villages in the affected areas
have received a food package. The good structure of NGOs in the interior
has paid off in this respect. But the need for food will remain. People
have lost their crops and there will be a sustained need for food until
agricultural plots are producing again.
Tomorrow 400 hygiene packages from Red Cross will arrive in Suriname.
They will be distributed together with the food packages.
Health situation
A daily medical surveillance system is currently in place. There is also
a quick response team established that should be able to do quick epidemic
investigation in the case of outbreaks. Suriname has a good system of
health clinics in the interior. In the current situation, the biggest
constraint is to get people to the clinics as transportation has been
disrupted by the flooding. The national coordination team has requested
police and military boats to assist.
Again, there are cases of diarrhea (some in combination with vomiting)
reported. But there are no suspected outbreaks at this moment. There is
also an increase in the number of respiratory infections reported. There
is a need for quick assessments of all flooded villages.
Water and Sanitation
PAHO is involved in placing water cleaning installations in the affected
areas. Clean drinking water remains an urgent need. Requests for chlorine
tablets and water tanks have gone out.
Education
Many teachers have left the affected areas for Paramaribo. If the situation
continues to improve in the upper Suriname area, the Ministry of Education
will try to bring them back to their villages as soon as possible. At
the same time teachers from the Eastern area are still coming to Paramaribo.
All in all, education is seriously disrupted. Efforts are being made to
continue schooling in the schools that also serve as temporary shelters,
but needless to say, circumstances are far from ideal. The Ministry of
Health is also looking into options for education in the areas where displaced
persons have gone.
International assistance
UNDAC is conducting two assessment studies of the situation. Reports
are expected tomorrow. Today an international expert in disaster relief
from PAHO was added to the technical support group. More international
technical support is expected to arrive the coming days.
Situation Report
12 May
Situation
It has been reported that the water level in the Tapanahony River and
Lawa River rises. In some villages an increase of 1 to 1.75 meters has
been measured. It was reported that the water level in the Boven Suriname
River has declined somewhat, but expected rainfall in the upper catchments
area might cause the water level to rise in the next two days. Flooding
has expanded to approximately 8000 km2 in the Boven Suriname area, and
15 to 16,000 km2 in the Tapanahony/Lawa Rivers.
Population affected
The number of people estimated to be displaced remains at 20.000 to 25.000.
Needs
At this moment mainly safe drinking water, food and durotanks (to collect
rain water for drinking)
Constraints
Main constraint at this moment is transportation. One third (6 of 18)
of the airstrips in the interior are closed, some roads are flooded, and
there is a need for Helicopters and boats. Many villages are only accessible
by water, some by plane or helicopter
Health situation
At this moment, the Medical Mission (responsible for health services
in the interior) reported no specific health problems. But they are very
vigilant to respond to the expected increased outbreaks of diarrhea and
possibly malaria. They consider the risk of leptospirosis to be very small.
Expectations
Sustained rainfall for the coming days remains a source of concern. In
both catchments areas the water level is expected to rise.
Relief assistance
National and international response is taking off. International agencies
have offered their technical support and many donations have been offered
and promised, among them
- The Dutch Government has pledged 1 milion Euro for assistance and
technical assistance.
- UNDP has provided US$ 80,000 to the UN country team for immediate
needs.
- OCHA has offered a US$ 30,000 preliminary cash grant.
- NGOs in the Netherlands and other European countries have offered
significant amounts of financial assistance (10 to 50.000 Euro).
- Surinamese citizens have generously provided money, food items and
other gifts.
- Surinamese private sector initiatives have donated generously for
relief support.
- Dutch military forces are ready to assist
National Coordination
- The National Coordination Centre has established 10 base camps in
the affected areas. From these camps they will serve the surrounding
villages with food, medical services and other assistance.
- The president has visited the National Coordination Centre today.
- UNDAC Team has arrived this morning to assess damage and needs.
- First transports with emergency aid packages (approx. 750) have arrived
in the interior.
PAHO/WHO Response
- A water and sanitarion enginer has arrived to support national efforts.
- A Suma team is on stand by.
Situation Report
10 May
Nature of the disaster
Flooding, due to continued torrential rainfall over the period starting
around 1 May 2006.
Areas affected
The area affected is the whole Southern part of Suriname, more in particular
the districts of Sipaliwini and Brokondo.
People affected
- Confirmed deaths: inventory pending
- Injured: inventory pending
- Displaced/ homeless: 22,141 (estimate)
Damage
- Mostly damage to houses and buildings (stone and wood) and roads.
- River ports and airstrips partly inaccessible.
- Telecommunication partly disabled.
- Electricity damaged in all affected areas.
General threats
- Meteorological reports predict further heavy rainfall within the
next few days.
- Population movements expected.
Health situation
- Expectation of diarrhoea epidemic.
- There may be a sudden increase in mercury levels due to release of
mercury from small-scale gold mining areas.
- Some of the medical centres are flooded, but most are still operational.
Current response
- Evacuation decided for two badly affected areas.
- Assessment of relief needs is currently being undertaken.
- Affected areas have been publicly announced disaster areas by the
President of Suriname on May 8, 2006.
International response
- A United Nations Disaster Management Team has been set up.
- A request for support has been sent to BCPR and OCHA, pending the
receipt of the situation analysis and needs analysis.
- Other international organizations and embassies are also awaiting
formal request letters.
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