IRI Climate Digest November
2000
Climate Impacts
Hazards/Threats
Venezuela Nearly a year after floods and mudslides
devastated the
Venezuelan coastal state of Vargas and parts of the capital,
Caracas, disaster victims have braced for a possible repeat.
Torrential rains and mudslides that left at least three people dead
and more than 2,000 homeless have unleashed fears of another
mournful Christmas season. President Hugo Chavez has urged people
to evacuate and
declared an emergency in Caracas, Vargas, and eight other states.
(DRO,
OCHA)
Sri Lanka Heavy monsoon rains triggered flooding
in eastern Sri Lanka. According to the
Government,
400,000 people have been affected by the floods, while latest
newspaper reports from Sri Lanka hold that about 100,000 families
have been affected by the floods in the districts of Batticaloa
(94,534 families) and Ampara (8,000 families).
(OCHA)
Indonesia Torrential rains pounded the Indonesian
island of Sumatra with dire consequences. The
rain triggered floods in Aceh and North Sumatra and has caused
further flooding, accompanied by landslides, in West Sumatra and
neighbouring Riau and Jambi. The latest media reports indicate
that over 100 people
have been killed or are missing and that the number of victims is
likely to augment. The floods and landslides have also damaged
paddy fields and physical infrastructure including roads, bridges,
electricity and telephone lines.
(OCHA)
Kenya The FEWS Kenya Food Security Update states that
Domestic maize supplies have increased markedly during October,
due to the long-rains harvesting in the 'grain-basket'
districts of the
Rift Valley Province. However, the 2000 long-rains maize harvest is
expected to be only 64 percent of the 1991-98 average. Subsequently, supplies
at the household level remain low, particularly in the worst affected
districts, further accentuating food insecurity.
(FEWS)
Europe Heavy rains exacerbated flood conditions which
developed in October in northeastern Italy and southern England. In the English
city of York, flooding in October produced the highest flood water levels in at
least 400 years. The water level of the Thames was expected to reach its highest
levels in 25 years, and in England as a whole, the flooding was considered the worst
in 50 years. In France, heavy rains triggered mudslides along the Mediterranean
coast, killing several people. Heavy rains were also observed across northern
Spain. A series of intense storms (extratropical lows) has impacted
the region during October and November.
(DRO)
Health
Burundi A malaria epidemic
in the northern highland districts of Burundi has affected
an estimated
276,000 people with 115 officially reported deaths. October
rains are
thought to have triggered the outbreak. With the upcoming
rainy season,
which starts in January, experts fear a significant increase
in cases,
as malaria cases generally double during this season.
(ReliefWeb)
South Africa There have been 6,548 reported cases of
cholera
and 35 deaths in
Kwazulu-Natal since the outbreak of this waterborne disease
began in
mid-August. Water sources are continuing to be monitored,
especially
during recent floods in the area.
(WHO,
WHO)
Water Resources
Tanzania
The Ministry of Energy and Minerals announced the introduction of power rationing during late November. The decision to
ration the power supply was made to ensure that water capacity at Mtera reservoir - which provides over 70% of
hydroelectric production - would not be completely depleted before the start of the next rainy season (expected in
January of 2001). (PMA)
Kenya
Power rationing in Kenya continued during the month despite widespread rains as prior drought conditions have left water
levels below operational levels at some hydroelectric dams. (PMA)
Armenia Low water levels in the Chernrechensky reservoir, the main source of drinkable water in Sevastopol, has left the city facing
possible water shortages. Water resources are less than 50% of capacity indicating water reserves of no more than two
months. Authorities regretted the discharge of water from the reservoir during the spring rainy season. Officials were
considering water use restrictions in an effort to conserve resources. (CNN)
Afghanistan Widespread rains brought some relief to ongoing severe drought, especially in the western and southwestern parts of the
country. Prolonged drought and ongoing crop failure has forced tens of thousands of people in the war-torn country to
move to urban areas or into neighboring Pakistan. More rain and snow is needed to raise water tables which have been
greatly reduced by the drought. (EA, Reuters)
Pakistan Drought conditions over the past year have reduced overall water levels to 65% of the long-term average. The most
affected areas are sectors within Sindh and most of Balochistan. The drought has resulted in considerable loss of livestock
and natural resources. About 2.2 million people are affected. (OCHA)
Agriculture
Kenya
Unusually low temperatures and accompanying frost destroyed hundreds of hectares
of maze in primary growing areas in
the central Laikipia district. According to local media reports,
the frost destroyed nearly the entire crop in the district's 3
maize producing divisions of Ngarua, Moran and Rumuruti. (CIP)
Indonesia The heavy rains in northern and western Sumatra have resulted
in damage to thousands of hectares of dry season rice, which was
near harvest. More rains forecast as the North East Monsoon sets in.
The FAO has issued a special report as food concerns mount following
the serious floods.
(FAO)
Argentina
Heavy rains in Central Argentina during late October have
flooded the rich crop region of northwestern Buenos Aires, southeastern
Cordoba and northeastern La Pampa provinces. More than 3.5 million acres
are under water, almost one third of the total cultivated land in the
region. Winter wheat, which will soon be ready for harvesting, has been
affected, as well as the planting of soybean and maize traditionally in
December. Losses are estimated at about 60 million dollars, including damage to
livestock. (La Nacion, Clarin)
Australia Heavy rains (100-200 mm) over a two week period caused 12 rivers in New South Wales to reach flood stage. The state
government declared the flooded region - which covered one-third of the state - a natural disaster. The flooding,
considered the worst in 20 years, resulted in crop damages estimated at $500 million USD. Especially hard hit awere the
northern inland cropping areas of NSW. Heavy rain over much of Queensland produced localized flooding and road
closures during the month. (CNN)
Fisheries
Peru Yearly cumulative catch of small pelagic fish in Peru
through the month of November was approximately 8.8 million metric tons
(compared
with approximately 6 million metric tons for the same period in
1999). Given the ban on meat and bone meals in Europe due to fear of
mad cow
disease, soymeal prices have increased dramatically, and there was an
expectation of increased demand of fishmeal (made from small pelagic
fish)
as a source of protein for animal feed. However, recent reports
indicate
that fishmeal will likely be included in the ban as well.
(FEO)
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