UPDATE ON EARTHQUAKE IN OSH OBLAST, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC

UNCLAS BISHKEK 001063 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI),EUR/ACE AND PRM/ENSA USAID FOR OFDA - ROB ANDREW AND ALEX MAHONEY ASTANA PLEASE PASS TO ALMATY USAID OFFICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID KG SUBJECT: UPDATE ON EARTHQUAKE IN OSH OBLAST, KYRGYZ REPUBLIC REF: BISHKEK 1037 ¶1. SUMMARY: On October 8, 2008 Ambassador declared a humanitarian disaster in the Osh oblast located in southern Kyrgyz Republic following an earthquake on October 5, 2008. Post worked closely with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the donor community to meet the immediate needs of the affected population. To date, the U.S. response has included assistance from the U.S. State Department,s Community and Humanitarian Assistance Program (CHAP),Manas Air Base, and USAID/OFDA. Thanks to the immediate response of numerous donors, and the Government itself, the immediate assistance needs of the affected area have been met. However, the Ministry of Emergency Situations has begun to ask the donor community for assistance with the impending &winter crisis8 that many fear will affect most regions of Kyrgyzstan. END SUMMARY. Background -------------- ¶2. On October 5, 2008 at 10:00 pm local time ( 6 GMT) an earthquake of magnitude 6.6 on the Richter scale occurred in the South of Kyrgyzstan (39.515 degrees N, 73.768 degrees E), at the border with Tajikistan and China. The worst affected areas were parts of Chon-Alai and Alai Rayon, specifically the village of Nura, some 220 kilometers from the main city of Osh. Data made available through the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations indicate that the final death toll was 74 people of which 43 were children. The number of injured was 142, of which 93 were children. ¶3. The Ministry of Emergency Situations assessed most of the settlements in the area surrounding Nura. They identified some 211 displaced families, which is a lower number than first anticipated/feared. The Ministry has begun setting up a tented camp for 211 families. Making the situation precarious, however, is the fact that the air temperature in the affected area is 0 degrees Celsius at night with strong winds. It has not snowed yet, but it is expected that snow and frost will start within the next few weeks. The most immediate need in the area is for construction materials for quick assembly/pre-fabricated houses. ¶4. Following two donor coordination meetings (the last held on October 8, 2008),the Ministry of Emergency Situations has continued to update the donor community on the situation and needs in the affected area. Disaster Response -------------- ¶5. The Government of Kyrgyzstan and international organization response to date has more than met the current needs in the affected area. Initial relief efforts, led by the Ministry of Emergency Situations, were immediate and included United Nations Agencies, international NGOs, and foreign governments, including the U.S. Embassy and Manas Airbase. The response by the Ministry and other donors has included the provision of winterized tents, heaters, blankets, food, mattresses, and money for food items. Subsequent relief items came in from USAID/OFDA, the Russian Government, the German Government, IOM, OCHA, WHO, and UNFPA. The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Emergencies is responsible for the overall coordination of the response. Members of the international community have a seat on this committee to facilitate coordination with external partners. Needs -------------- ¶6. The Ministry of Emergency Situations initially made requests for a variety of aid items from the international community, including shelter, logistics, food items and non-food items (such as blankets, mattresses, and sleeping bags). These needs were quickly met by a variety of donors and it is our understanding that sufficient aid items have been provided to meet upcoming needs for the next several months. For this reason, the Ministry is already storing supplies provided in response to the earthquake in its own warehouse for use in future emergencies. Subsequent needs identified by the Ministry included: construction materials for quick assembly/pre-fabricated houses, electric power generators, kerosene stoves, kitchen sets, fuel/lubricants, family food rations, etc. USAID/OFDA provided $50,000 to help procure building materials, which is the most pressing need expressed by the Ministry. Most other needs listed here have been met by other donors. However, as additional needs are identified, Post will provide updates. ¶7. The Mission would like to re-iterate that all USG relief efforts continue to be coordinated in country and that Post is aware and appreciative of DoD,s offer of additional relief assistance. Currently, there do not appear to be outstanding, immediate needs related to the earthquake. However, other needs have been highlighted for which DoD assistance would be greatly appreciated (see below). Highlighting Needs for the Winter -------------- ¶8. The earthquake and subsequent response has further highlighted the existing needs nationwide for the upcoming winter season in Kyrgyzstan. While the Government and donors have differing and changing views on how to categorize the upcoming winter in Kyrgyzstan, there is broad consensus that there will be significant problems with electricity (with residual issues on heating and water) as well as issues on wheat availability and growing food costs ) especially for the urban poor. Additionally, the issue of inadequate food for livestock beginning this summer has the potential to cause the loss of up to 25% of livestock across the country on terms that are suboptimal which, in turn, threatens livelihoods and food security. In recognition of challenges faced by the Kyrgyz Republic in preparing for the upcoming winter, the USG is providing a comprehensive package of assistance (through USAID) valued at approximately $6.2 million. The plan includes $2.45 million in new resources to address: uninterrupted electricity for critical hospitals, supplemental feed for livestock of rural families, and additional high-quality wheat seed to improve the spring 2009 harvest. In addition, the plan includes the refocusing of $3.75 million of existing programs to address agricultural priorities, including: improving irrigation, crop selection, quality of inputs, and agricultural environment, and providing expert advice to the Ministry of Energy to plan for the coming winter and improve overall management of Kyrgyz energy supplies. In addition, DoD has received eight proposals to procure needed winter items for orphanages, old age homes, etc. Funding for these projects will reach approximately $80,000. ¶9. Even with this assistance, however, many needs remain. Specific needs for which DoD assistance could be useful, and for which USAID has already begun to communicate needs to DoD include: 1) securing and sending from current stock additional generators (exact number and requirements will be communicated directly to DoD) for critical-needs health-care facilities ) providing that these generators meet in-country specifications, as well as blankets, mattresses, winter clothing, and dried food; and 2) funds to procure coal-burning stoves and coal for use in other vulnerable institutions ) such as orphanages, senior citizen homes, homes for the handicapped, etc. focused in the south (estimated at $300,000); and 3) funds to plus-up planned USAID procurement of generators, to help provide technical assistance (in the form of training and oversight),and supply crucial spare parts (transformers, cables, etc.) to the overall distribution network for the country (estimated at $500,000). The provision of spare parts, in particular, was not originally planned, but would help prevent breakdowns and help respond quickly when breakdowns do occur, which would mitigate adverse affects of unplanned power outages. GFOELLER