Relief Operation Underway for Russia Flood Victims

Written by Mason Anderson, Staff Writer, RedCross.org

August 2, 2002 — Nearly one month after the worst flooding to strike southern Russia in 70 years took the lives of at least 110 people, some 332,800 affected residents are struggling to recover.

The June floods left nearly 100 people dead, affected more than 300,000 people and damaged or destroyed more than 45,000 houses. Photo Courtesy of the IFRC.

As washed out roads and bridges are rebuilt and access to flooded areas improves, food, clothing and hygiene products are being delivered to the devastated regions with the help of the American Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The region’s troubles began the second half of June, when heavy rains inundated the Northern Caucasus and southern Russia area, triggering landslides in Stavropol Kria and Krasnodarski Krai, as well as in seven republics (Adygeya, Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachaevo-Cherkessia, Igushetia, North Osetia, Chechnya and Dagestan) in the Russian Federation’s Southern Federal Okrug.

The extensive flooding and landslides wreaked havoc in the area, destroying more than 13,500 homes and damaging some 45,000 others. Making matters worse, severe damages to the local infrastructure of the region, including washed out bridges and roads and mass power outages, delayed initial disaster recovery efforts.

Among the first responders were volunteers from the Russian Red Cross, who assessed damages in the regions and delivered food, tents, blankets, and some 275 metric tons of relief items donated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The American Red Cross is augmenting the efforts of the Russian Red Cross and the Federation in the hardest hit Dagestan republic by providing family food parcels and mattresses to an estimated 5,000 residents. Support for the relief comes from a $50,000 grant provided by the U.S. government.

On July 19, the Federation launched an appeal for $870,790 to meet the immediate disaster needs of the victims. The Federation has been working in coordination with the Russian Red Cross to distribute the items and determine long-term recovery needs.

Whole Country Potentially Affected

Although relief organizations are focusing on food, blanket and tent distribution, experts are assessing the long-term ramifications of the disaster.

The massive rains and ensuing landslides have not only discounted any chance of harvest for this year for thousands of farmers. They also have washed away fertile soil needed for future cultivation.

”The affected region is one of the main food producers in the country,” said Matthew Parry, American Red Cross regional delegate. “The damages from the floods are very substantial - it could be another 2 to 3 years before some parts have recovered enough to produce food again.”

You can help those affected by this crisis and countless others around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.