| JOHANNESBURG, 5 Dec 2005 (IRIN)
- As the first rain since Mount Karthala erupted brings desperately
needed relief and the extent of the damage becomes clearer, aid
agencies are scrambling to help authorities cope with the fallout.
The volcanic dust and debris covering
extensive areas of the Grande Comore island have raised concerns
about the health of 245,000 people living in the polluted area, as
well as the effect on agriculture and livestock.
"Today it rained heavily and now
the ash has almost cleared," Joseffa Marrato, the UN Children's
Fund (UNICEF) country representative, told IRIN. |
 |
Toxic volcanic ash has contaminated the
reservoirs, where water levels already low as a result of delayed seasonal
rains. The authorities have called on international agencies and local
organisations for support in addressing an immediate threat of inadequate
access to potable water.
"Our most pressing issue is water provision - it has become
contaminated and, because of the drought, most of the water cisterns were
almost empty," Marrato pointed out.
As part of an emergency plan, subterranean water is being collected in the
capital, Moroni, and transported by truck to affected areas. UNICEF has
provided trucks, water tanks, fuel and financial resources to cover
operational costs.
However, tapping into the water supplies of unaffected areas to provide
for those in need was stressing available sources.
"Today we realised that the regular water system is not working - it
is weak by nature. By taking water from people unaffected by the volcano
we are depriving these areas of water too," Marrato remarked.
Addressing the immediate problem by redistributing water has again
revealed the underlying issue of poor water infrastructure. According to
Marrato, a long-term response to the issue was desperately needed.
After a rapid assessment, conducted by local authorities in collaboration
with UN agencies and the Comoros Red Crescent Society (CRCS), authorities
have established water, sanitation, agriculture and livestock as
priorities in the coordinated response, according to a statement released
by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) on Friday.
UNICEF is also assisting by providing resources for cleaning water tanks,
sensitising populations to the health risks of drinking possibly
contaminated water, and ensuring clean water supplies to schools.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is providing technical assistance to
help the authorities assess public health, and water and sanitation
conditions.
Since the eruption started on 24 November, "many people, especially
the elderly and children," were having trouble breathing, as they
have been inhaling volcanic dust, OCHA warned.
The French Red Cross Society's Regional Intervention Platform for the
Indian Ocean (PIROI) has sent an emergency response team and mobilised
water sanitation equipment.
The University of La Reunion has sent technical experts to assist in
evaluating Mount Karthala's condition, and UNOSAT, a United Nations
initiative that provides access to satellite imagery, is being used to
determine the scope of the damage. |
