2007 seeing record extreme weather

GENEVA - The world experienced a series of record-breaking weather events in early 2007, from flooding in Asia to heat waves in Europe and snowfall in South Africa, the United Nations weather agency said Tuesday.

The World Meteorological Organization said global land surface temperatures in January and April were likely the warmest since records began in 1880, at about 3 degrees Fahrenheit higher than average for those months.

There have also been severe monsoon floods across South Asia, abnormally heavy rains in northern Europe, China, Sudan, Mozambique and Uruguay, extreme heat waves in southeastern Europe and Russia, and unusual snowfall in South Africa and South America this year, the WMO said.

“The start of the year 2007 was a very active period in terms of extreme weather events,” Omar Baddour of the agency’s World Climate Program told journalists in Geneva.

While most scientists believe extreme weather events will be more frequent as heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions cause global temperatures to rise, Baddour said it was impossible to say with certainty what the second half of 2007 will bring.

“It is very difficult to make projections for the rest of the year,” he said.

'More frequent' extremes predicted
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.N. umbrella group of hundreds of experts, has noted an increasing trend in extreme weather events over the past 50 years and said irregular patterns are likely to intensify.

"IPCC further projects it to be very likely that hot extremes, heat waves and heavy precipitation events will continue to become more frequent," the WMO noted.

"When we observe such extremes in individual years, it means that this fits well with current knowledge from the IPCC report on global trends," Baddour said, adding that climate scientists had reached a consensus that this trend would likely continue.

"There is no other consensus model than this one," he said.

South Asia’s worst monsoon flooding in recent memory has affected 30 million people in India, Bangladesh and Nepal, destroying croplands, livestock and property and raising fears of a health crisis in the densely-populated region.

The region saw four monsoon depressions in June and July, double the normal amount, the WMO said.

Huge swell waves swamped some 68 islands in the Maldives in May, resulting in severe damage, and the Arabian Sea had its first documented cyclone in June, touching Oman and Iran.

Heavy rains also doused southern China in June, with nearly 14 million people affected by floods and landslides that killed 120 people, the WMO said.

Europe, Africa, South America
England and Wales this year had their wettest May-July since records began in 1766, resulting in extensive flooding and more than $6 billion in damage, as well as at least nine deaths. Germany swung from its driest April since countrywide observations started in 1901 to its wettest May on record.

Temperature records were broken in southeastern Europe in June and July, and in western and central Russia in May. In many European countries, January and April were the warmest ever recorded.

Source: MSNBC

USAID Provides Assistance to Maldives Flood Victims

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Due to the effects of recent flooding in the Republic of Maldives, the U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is providing $100,000 to the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) for emergency water and sanitation services to the affected populations. On May 22, U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Robert O. Blake declared a disaster and authorized U.S. assistance.

Beginning May 15, seasonal high tides and large waves exacerbated by intense winds flooded at least 55 of the 194 inhabited islands in the Maldives. Flood waters affected local infrastructure, water supplies, and crops on many islands, but did not cause any deaths, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The flooding is the most widespread on record, apart from the December 2004 tsunami, according to the Maldives Government.

USAID will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as appropriate.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

Source: USAID

Maldives: Coastal flooding OCHA Situation Report No. 2

This situation report is based on information received from the Maldives’ National Disaster Management Center, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives, as well as from the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and Pacific in Bangkok.

SITUATION

1. On 15-17 May 2007, a series of swells, between 10 – 15 feet, hit an estimated 35 islands in 13 Atolls across the Maldives, causing the inundation of up to 600 metres from the coastline. The southern atolls of the Maldives were the most affected, in particular Seenu and Gaafu Dhaalu. These high tides occur annually, but not to this magnitude.

2. There were no human fatalities from the coastal flooding. 1649 people were evacuated from their homes.

3. On 19 May 2007, a Rapid Assessment Team, comprised of Government of Maldives personnel, IFRC and UN counterparts, was deployed to conduct a rapid assessment of five high tide affected islands of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll: Fares-Maathodaa, Fiyoare, Rathafandhoo, Nadellaa, and Madaveli. The assessment found:

a. Water-sanitation: There is an urgent need for clean drinking water and household water (community tanks need refilling – due to dry season prior to the high tide). Ground tests indicated contamination.

Action recommended by the assessment mission: Urgent need for drinking water. A detailed assessment is urgently required on fresh water wells.

b. Housing: 217 housing units were damaged and 258 were otherwise flood affected.

Recommended action: Further assessments are needed on the long-term impact of flooding on the coral based houses, where there are indications that weakened foundations will require repair/reconstruction.

Recommended action: Provision of mattresses and bedding

c. Livelihood: Need for recovery intervention in local gardens, small plantations, hay harvesting and other livelihoods such as fish processing. There will also be a long-term impact from saltwater permeation damaging crops and trees.

Recommended action: Further detailed assessments on livelihood impacts needed.

d. Education: Some schools were flood damaged with irreparably damaged furniture.

Recommended action: School-based psychosocial support activities are required

e. Infrastructure: Minor damage to harbours and quay walls on the west-side of the islands. Basic services, including electricity, water and sewerage systems were affected by the inundation of seawater.

f. Health: No damage to health facilities or health services.

g. Environment: Substantial coastal erosion and saltwater inland flooding. Ground water assessments show signs of contaminated fresh water on all five affected main islands.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

4. NTR

III. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

5. NTR

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Mr. Rajan Gengaje, Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Tel. + 66-2288-2572, Fax: +66-2288-1043, Mob. + 66-8-1916-1271
e-mail: gengaje@un.org

Desk Officers:
(NY) Mr. Wojtek Wilk, Tel. +1-917 367 9748, e-mail: wilkw@un.org
(GVA) Mr. Guadelupe deSousa, Tel. +41-22-917 4339

Press contact:
(NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1-917 367 5126
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 2653

Maldives: Coastal flooding OCHA Situation Report No. 1

Source: Relief Web

The Bangladeshi chief advisor pledges assistance to the Maldives

The Chief Advisor of the Government of Bangladesh, Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed, has pledged assistance to the Maldives, in the wake of last week’s widespread damage caused by tidal waves on many islands. He made the pledge in a telephone conversation with the President yesterday. He called the President after receiving the President’s letter of appeal requesting urgent international assistance.

Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed said that he was sad to hear of the flooding and its impact on the lives of many Maldivians, and conveyed the sympathy of the Government and people of Bangladesh to President Gayoom, the Government and the brotherly people of the Maldives.

During the conversation, the President briefed the Bangladeshi Chief Advisor on the scale of damage and the ongoing work to extend humanitarian relief to the victims. Further, the President thanked the Government of Bangladesh for their generous assistance and emphasised that Bangladesh had always supported the Maldives in every such hour of need.

Source: Relief Web

UN agencies assist flood-stricken Maldives

United Nations agencies are providing much-needed assistance to the Maldives, which is suffering from the effects of two days of wave swells last week which have impacted at least 35 islands in 13 atolls in the Indian Ocean nation.

“Except for the tsunami in 2004, the Maldives has never before faced such widespread and simultaneous flooding of so many islands,” said John Holmes, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

The UN was part of a rapid assessment team, also comprising personnel from the Government, the International Federation of the Red Cross/Red Crescent (IFRC), deployed on 19 May to five islands in the hardest-hit Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), while no deaths have been reported, approximately 1,650 people have been forced to leave their homes while 217 housing units as well as several harbours and jetties have been damaged.

Heath and education facilities are functional in spite of the flooding and considerable damage, with streets strewn with garbage, debris being widespread and septic tanks needing repair.

The Government of the Maldives is appealing for international support and for UN aid in the relief and recovery efforts.

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is supplying 10 water tanks and five rainwater harvesting kits to Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, while the UN World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating with the Government’s Ministry of Health on possible aid that may be required. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working with authorities to assist in livelihood recovery.

The Government has distributed emergency items, such as food, water and mattresses, as well as a mobile water desalination plant.

Source: United Nations News Service

Maldives: Coastal flooding OCHA Situation Report No. 1

This situation report is based on information received from the Maldives' National Disaster Management Center, the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator in the Maldives, as well as from the OCHA Regional Office for Asia and Pacific in Bangkok.

SITUATION

1. A series of wave surges of varying magnitude hit about 35 islands in 13 Atolls across the Maldives on 15-17 May 2007, causing inundation up to 600m from the coastline. Southern atolls of the Maldives, especially Seenu and Gaafu Dhaalu, were particularly affected due to their flatness as well as their location in the open sea. The wave that affected the southern atolls had wavelength of 350 – 433 meters, which doubled in height as it approached the coastline.

2. The disaster resulted in no human casualties, although four persons were wounded and some 1649 people were evacuated.(1) 217 housing units were damaged and 258 more were otherwise affected by the flooding. Three days of wave swells caused extensive damage to the home gardens and other means of livelihood; 43 vegetation sites were destroyed, about 15 sea vessels were damaged. The disaster caused partial damage to a number of harbour and jetties as eroded sections of beaches and coastline walls.

3. The seawater incursion contaminated the wells and the groundwater table, causing shortage of drinking water in some islands. Septic tanks were damaged or filled with seawater, causing sewage to flood some areas. The tide also flooded some landfills and scattered trash throughout the affected area, raising sanitation concerns. Cleaning-up operations are in progress.

4. The healthcare facilities were not damaged and have assisted the affected populations. No major outbreaks were reported. Nevertheless, cases of tsunami-related trauma among the population, including children, were reported. The schools were not affected and continue to function on schedule.

5. A Rapid Assessment Team, comprised of Government personnel and IFRC and UN counterparts, was deployed on 19 May 2007 to conduct a rapid assessment of five islands of Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll: Fares-Maathodaa, Fiyoare, Rathafandhoo, Nadellaa, and Madaveli. The assessment is to focus on infrastructure, health, water-sanitation, livelihood, environment and emergency relief needs. The final report is expected to be released by Government of Maldives in the next few days.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

6. The Government of Maldives provided emergency relief assistance (food, water supply, mattresses) to the affected communities. A mobile water desalination plant had been dispatched by the Government's National Disaster Management Center.

7. The Department of Meteorology has been monitoring the weather situation and issued warning information to communities. The National Disaster Management Center provided updated situation reports of the island situation as well as coordinated Government's assessment and emergency relief assistance efforts.

8. The Government of Maldives issued an appeal for assistance to the international community. It also made a formal appeal for assistance to the UN Secretary General to assist in the immediate relief and early recovery efforts.

III. INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

9. UNICEF provided ten water tanks and five rain-water harvesting kits to the most affected Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. IFRC is preparing provision of drinking water in Gaafu Dhaalu atoll. American Red Cross is organizing a parents-teachers meeting to assess stress levels among children.

10. WHO is coordinating with the Ministry of Health on possible health assistance that may be required. UNDP is liaising with national authorities in order to provide support in the areas of livelihoods recovery and coordination. OCHA has offered the UN Resident Coordinator its assistance in coordinating international response, as well as technical assistance in environmental impact assessment and disaster prevention and risk reduction.

11. The UN System and IFRC are awaiting the report of the rapid assessment team to identify next steps and will accordingly update partners.

Note

(1) Population of the Maldives is estimated at 369,000.

For detailed information please contact:

OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (Bangkok)
Mr. Rajan Gengaje, Regional Disaster Response Adviser
Tel. + 66-2288-2572, Fax: +66-2288-1043, Mob. + 66-8-1916-1271
e-mail: gengaje@un.org

Desk Officers:
(NY) Mr. Wojtek Wilk, Tel. +1-917 367 9748, e-mail: wilkw@un.org
(GVA) Mr. Guadelupe deSousa, Tel. +41-22-917 4339

Press contact:
(NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1-917 367 5126
(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 2653

Source: Relief Web

Bangladesh offers 1 mln USD in cash for flood victims in Maldives

The Bangladeshi government on Tuesday announced an offer of 1 million U.S. dollars in cash as relief for flood victims in the Maldives.

Bangladeshi caretaker government Chief Advisor Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed Tuesday telephoned President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and conveyed his deepest sympathy at the devastation caused by the widespread flooding in his country.

Earlier, President Gayoom had addressed Ahmed a letter stating the extent of the damages following what he described as an environmental emergency and requesting assistance and support from friends.

Bangladesh and the Maldives are members of the eight-nation South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Source: Xinhua

The President appeals for international assistance in helping the victims of the unprecedented sea swells which hit the Maldives on the 15th May 2007

The President has appealed for international support and assistance in helping victims of the unprecedented sea swells, which caused extensive flooding, inflicting damage to homes, livelihoods and infrastructure in many parts of the country since the 15th of this month.

In a letter to world leaders and international organisations appealing for assistance, the President noted that apart from the 2004 Tsunami, never in the country's recorded history had so many islands faced flooding simultaneously. He said that while, with the Grace of the Almighty Allah, there had been no casualties as a result of the flooding, extensive damage had been caused to homes, jetties and fishing vessels, as well as trees, plants and crops on many islands.

Highlighting the fact that the December 2004 Tsunami had caused tremendous damage to the country's economy, the President said that the disaster set the country back by many years, in development efforts. He stated that while the country had been restoring the lives and livelihoods of the people, rebuilding damaged homes and infrastructure across the country over the past two and a half years, this latest environmental emergency would certainly create further grave challenges in what is already a gigantic task.

In the letter, the President appealed to the leaders and international organisations for their immediate support and assistance in helping the victims by providing relief and recovery at the earliest possible time.

Source: Relief Web

Dozens of Maldives islands swamped by storm surge

Dozens of Maldives islands swamped by storm surge

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 May, 2007 : - - Colombo - Waves from an Indian Ocean storm surge swamped dozens of islands in the low-lying Maldives on Tuesday, the government said. Because the Maldives are on average just 1.5 metres (five feet) above sea level, inhabitants are especially alert to rising waters, fearing the islands may be obliterated within a few generations by rising sea levels brought by global warning.

Tuesday's floods in the south of the archipelago did little or no damage, but did appear to be an unusually large example of the surges that are normal at monsoon time. Waves of three to four feet (one to 1.3 metres) caused flooding in 48 of the archipelago's 197 inhabited islands, but officials said no one was hurt.

None of the Maldives' trademark luxury, palm-fringed resorts -- which attract the rich and famous and are the linchpin of the US$800 million economy -- were affected. "It is an annual occurrence at this point of the monsoon. Storm surges are quite common, but it is unusual to have them to the extent we have had today," government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said by telephone from the Maldives' capital, Male.

"It is essentially a rise of the tide. The water came in at least 100 feet (30 metres) on some islands, and then receded in the evening ... It is the low-lying islands that have felt the impact."

Source:

Storm surge swamps low-lying Maldives islands

Waves from an Indian Ocean storm surge swamped dozens of islands in the low-lying Maldives on Tuesday, the government said.

Because the Maldives are on average just 1.5 metres (five feet) above sea level, inhabitants are especially alert to rising waters, fearing the islands may be obliterated within a few generations by rising sea levels brought by global warning.

Tuesday's floods in the south of the archipelago did little or no damage, but did appear to be an unusually large example of the surges that are normal at monsoon time.

Waves of three to four feet (one to 1.3 metres) caused flooding in 48 of the archipelago's 197 inhabited islands, but officials said no one was hurt.

None of the Maldives' trademark luxury, palm-fringed resorts -- which attract the rich and famous and are the linchpin of the $800 million economy -- were affected.

'It is an annual occurrence at this point of the monsoon. Storm surges are quite common, but it is unusual to have them to the extent we have had today,' government spokesman Mohamed Shareef said by telephone from the Maldives' capital, Male.

'It is essentially a rise of the tide. The water came in at least 100 feet (30 metres) on some islands, and then receded in the evening ... It is the low-lying islands that "

-Reuters-

Maldives experiencing tidal waves across the country

"Reports are coming in that several islands across the Maldives have been hit by tidal waves. According to National Meteorological Center five atolls across Maldives have so far been hit by the huge waves since this morning.

The waves were first known to have hit the islands in Addu atoll around 6:15 am. However no serious damage occurred due to the low tide at the time. In addition to Addu atoll, Gaafu Alifu atoll Kolamaafushi have also been hit. According to the Atoll Chief, Abdullah Saeed, 30 areas of the seawall in Gaafu Alifu atoll Kandu Hulhudhoo collapsed because of the waves.

The waves had flooded the populated area of the island, around 100 feet away from the beach, on the northern side of Laamu atoll Kunahandhoo. Due to the waves the residents of the island had now barricaded their homes with sand bags to keep the water out.

The waves were also experienced in Shaviyani atoll Feevah and Foakaidhoo. Shaviyani atoll office had already sent warning to the other islands in the atoll to be prepared for further wave activity. So far none of the islands in Male atoll and Noonu atoll has reported tidal waves or unusual ocean swells.

According to Addu atoll Chief, Hussein Saeed, the waves had hit Maradhoo, Maradhoo-Feydhoo, Herathere resort and Hithadhoo. He added that Feydhoo continued to be hit by the huge waves and that several a"

- Haveeru Online -

More Than Ten Islands Hit By Swell

"More than ten islands across the Maldives have been hit by a large swell, and the Maldives Meteorological Office is warning all islands to be braced for further unusual tides on Tuesday evening and Wednesday.

The Met Office can not explain why the sudden swell has taken place but have said it is definitely not the result of a tsunami.

A swell of between one and two feet washed through beaches and onto the western sides of the islands at around 9.30am this morning, causing much flooding.

There are no confirmed reports of any loss of life, or of structural damage to buildings or harbours. But many homes have been flooded by the swell, and many families have been left without electricity.

The swell hit Hithadhoo, Feydhoo, Maradhoo, Gan and Maradhoo-Feydhoo islands in Addu (Seenu) atoll. It also affected Dhidhdhoo in Haa Alifu atoll, Naivaadhoo island in Haa Dhaal atoll, Funadhoo island in Shaviyani atoll, Hinnavar island in Laviyani atoll, Madaveli island in Gaaf Alif atoll and Dhidhdhoo island in Alif Daal atoll."

- Minivan -