UNICEF Situation Report No:3 Earthquake in Van 31 October 2011 Background: On 23 October, an earthquake, measuring 7.2-magnitude on the Richter scale, hit the eastern region of Turkey. The epicenter was in the Tabanli village of Ercis district in the eastern province of Van, which borders Iran on the east. It was felt in the Van province city center as well as the neighbouring provinces. According to Disaster and Emergency Management committee under the Prime Ministry, as of 30 October, 601 deaths and 4,152 injured reported. A total of 188 people have been rescued. National Response According to the Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management official information (18.00 30.10.2011) the following resources have been deployed to emergency areas: Total of 93 airplanes; 35 from Turkish airlines, 40 from military and 18 cargo planes are carrying air and ground rescue equipment, tents, blankets and other necessary supplies to Van and Ercis. The transportation of goods is also going on by road with trucks from all over Turkey. Total of 4.446 search and rescue staff, 1.796 health staff, 18 search dogs, 651 construction vehicles and equipment, 7 air ambulances, 173 ambulances, 11 mobile hospitals (6 of them in service), 143 generators, 77 reflectors, 95 wc-shower bath containers, 43.367 tents ( 8.639 of them are from abroad), 109 tents for general usage, 60 prefabricated houses, 15 house containers, 2.310 Mevlana type prefabricated houses, 165.531 blankets, 1.179 quilts, 37 portable kitchens, 3.051 kitchen 1
sets, 6.899 catalytic stoves, 5.792 sleeping bags, 1000 folding beds and 1 mobile oven has been delivered to the region. The Prime Ministry Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency sent a team of 20 experts to Van to facilitate effective rescue and relief operations. In addition, 200 experts from various provinces were dispatched to Van to conduct a rapid assessment on the damage caused by the earthquake. The team inspected 7069 buildings and concluded (as of 27 October, 10:00 a.m.) that in the province of Van (including Erciş and rural areas) a total of: 861 buildings totally collapsed 3713 buildings (5270 apartments) are damaged-uninhabitable 2209 buildings (3446 apartments) are damaged-habitable Health A total of 2.200 health personnel are working in Van and Ercis. 220 ambulances, 1 airplane and 7 helicopters are being used to transfer injured people to health centres. In addition to the 8 hospitals (5 state hospitals and 3 private hospitals) in Van, 11 mobile hospitals in Van and Ercis have been established to treat patients. In order to carry out public services and provide psychosocial support to the disaster victims 30 field tents have been delivered to the region. Qualified personnel have been assigned to provide services under Van Governorship s order. Education According to an official statement by the Ministry of National Education on 30 October; 63 teachers have lost their lives and 13 have been injured in Van and Ercis. Provincial Officials has reported that out of 379 schools, 143 are damaged. Based on the first assessments, 170,000 school aged children are affected by the earth quake. The primary school in Gedikbulak village was the only school that has totally collapsed. The Ministry of National Education has announced closure of all schools and the university until 14 November 2011. Food and supplies The necessary precautions have been taken to serve 3 courses of hot meals, basic food and drinking water transportation is going on. Water The people of earthquake area have been warned by the Ministry of Health to drink only bottled water. There are many cases of diarrhea among the affected population. Shelter To construct permanent houses, Housing Development Administration (TOKİ) has been given instruction and houses shall be supplied for disaster victims as soon as possible. So as to temporary sheltering, manufacturing of 3.000 containers have been started and it is supposed that they shall be set up in affected areas. In addition to this, for the maintenance of 260 units of containers in Batman, 600.000 TL (322.580 USD) allowance has been transferred to Batman Governorship. When the maintenance of containers in Batman and manufacturing of 100 containers in Kocaeli finish, they shall be delivered to disaster area. Cash Donations Cash support worth of 13 million TL has been sent to Governorate of Van for immediate needs. 2
The Prime Ministry s aid campaign was able to raise 12.681.818 USD until now. In addition, two major TV channels collected a total of 62 million TL as a result of the joint telethon they organized on 26 October 2011 to support the relief operation. Weather It was below 0 degrees Celcius last night. Today it is expected to be 8 degrees Celcius. International Assistance The Government has called for international assistance in the form of tents and prefabricated houses. Erzurum has been identified as the receiving hub of international assistance coming in by air. To that end, Erzurum Governorate is assigned to coordinate and deliver the humanitarian assistance received to Van. For humanitarian assistance coming in by land, Van Governorship has been tasked to establish Logistics Reception Center. Prompt action is taken by OCHA, UNHCR, UNFPA and IOM to provide tents requested by the Government and other relief items to the Turkish Red Crescent Society. UNHCR has donated 4,000 tents, 50,000 blankets, and 10,000 bed mats. 2000 tents, 10,000 blankets and 10,000 bed mats have already been delivered to the Turkish Red Crescent Society. The remaining items are being air-lifted. UNFPA has donated 250 tents while OCHA has donated 400 tents which are scheduled to arrive at Erzurum on 26 Oct night. The Ministry of Health requested assistance/guidance from WHO and UNICEF on post-traumatic stress disorders. WHO/UNICEF/IOM are coordinating tools with their related ministries for psychological support to affected population. The Government has reported that the humanitarian assistance has been received from the following countries in the following forms and quantity: Algeria: 900 tents Armenia: 193 tents Austria: 32 tents Azerbaijan: Research and rescue team of 140, 1,250 tents, 700 mattresses, 40 generators, 5,000 blankets, 40 kitchen utensils. Belgium: 400 tents Bulgaria: 200 tents, 800 blankets; 133 heaters; Denmark: 100 tents Egypt: 300 tents Estonia: 329 tents France: 490 tents Germany: 500 tents Ireland: 624 tents Israel: 15 prefabricated houses Italy: 200 tents Japan: 100 tents Kazakhstan: 60 tents, 300 blankets, 300 mattresses, 60 heaters Luxemburg: 360 tents Pakistan: 264 tents Qatar: 580 tents, 2,500 blankets 3
Romania: 100 tents Russian Federation: 284 tents Saudi Arabia: $ 50 million Slovakia: 10 tents Slovenia: 2 tents Spain: 329 tents Sweden: 155 tents Switzerland: 200 tents, 800 blankets, 133 heaters Ukraine: 4 general purpose tents United Kingdom: 1,144 tents Humanitarian Needs: According to AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency), the most immediate needs are: Tents Containers Sleeping bags Blankets Stoves Food supplies that can be stocked Cleaning supplies water Inter-Agency Collaboration, Coordination, Cluster Leadership and Key Partnerships Humanitarian Coordination Structure: The UN agencies in Turkey are coordinating its response through the RC system. The UNCT is working on the development of a joint action plan which identifies roles and responsibilities of different agencies. Cluster Leadership: So far no clusters were identified. Partnerships with INGOs, NGOs: Not yet defined UNICEF Response: UNICEF CO team met with high level officials from Ministry of National Education to identify the exact needs to guarantee return to school (in terms of buildings, school material, books etc.) Ministry of National Education sent 37 engineers to conduct a rapid assessment; the official outcomes of this assessment will be shared with UNICEF. MONE requested UNICEF to provide 45 containers to serve as temporary classrooms for the students of 16 schools which had been collapsed. UNICEF will conduct a joint rapid assessment mission with the Ministry of National Education on November 2 nd to assess the additional needs in regards to psychosocial support. Subsequently to the findings, a protocol will be signed between Special Education and Guidance General Directorate, UNICEF Turkey Office and Turkish Psychological and Guidance Association on the support services that will be realized in Van province. There is already a support given by the PSYCHO-SOCIAL SERVICES UNION composed of Turkish Red Cross Association, Turkish Psychologist Association, Social Services Experts Association, Turkey Psychiatrics Association, Child and Youth Mental Health Association and Turkish Psychological and Guidance Association in the region and coordination amongst different actors is being assured. 4
Psycho-social training support to teachers and support services to children are priorities. Two equipped containers could be requested urgently from UNICEF to be used for the guidance services in Erciº and Van. Media and communication The UNCT agreed to coordinate the country level response to media through the RC system and UNIC Funding In order to meet the immediate needs of women and children affected by the earthquake, UNICEF requires $900,000. Next steps UNICEF will participate to rapid needs assessments organised by relevant government counterparts. 5