ONCE AND FOR ALL …

There hasn't been a disaster of such proportions in Azerbaijan for a long time. As a result of the rising level of the Kur and Araz Rivers, 40 Azerbaijani districts have been flooded. A total of 20,000 houses have been inundated, more than 300 have been destroyed, while 2,000 are in emergency condition. Water has covered 50,000 hectares of plantations and pastures. The transport and energy infrastructure has been deluged. Sabirabad District and the town of Sirvan have been affected particularly badly. This was the information as of 7 May, when the Azerbaijani president convened the first cabinet meeting to discuss the disaster.

The situation changed every day and on 11 May the head of state held a second meeting, this time in the field, having arrived at the scene. It became clear that the Kur had destroyed a second barrier, not very far from the first, causing the river to spill about 25 million cubic metres of water on nearby settlements within one day.

Matters are made even worse by the fact that whereas the Araz normally goes on the rampage in April and the Kur usually bursts its banks in May, this year this process has been under way since last autumn.

Informing the head of state about the scale of the disaster, Deputy Prime Minister Abid Sarifov indicated that never before in the history of Azerbaijan had flows in the Kur reached 2,400 cubic metres of water per second. "Flows used to reach 1,950-2,100 cubic metres at most. This has never happened before," Sarifov explained, adding that the situation was made even more difficult by the rising level of the Araz.

A round-the-clock operation was organized at the scene of the calamity. Forces from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Open Joint Stock Company for Melioration and Water Management, and a number of companies have been deployed. But, according to the deputy prime minister, the situation remains very serious. The task is difficult because the second barrier to be destroyed was 14 km. long

The president was informed by Emergencies Minister Kamaladdin Heydarov that residents of nine villages had earlier been evacuated from flooded villages in the Sabirabad District. On 10 May, residents of 605 more houses were evacuated. Luckily, there have been no fatalities. About 1,300 people have been settled in a tent-camp. Some evacuated families have moved in with relatives.

Comprehensive approach 

President Ilham Aliyev said the elements had surged to a level unseen for years, if not decades. But, according to the head of state, the situation was under control and the measures taken prevented an even greater disaster. "We are and will be doing everything we can. All bodies must operate in a coordinated manner. Ministries, all state agencies, representatives of local executive authorities - we must all work together because this is our common problem. Never before has such a large area of our country been affected by disaster," said the head of state.

Everything has been done in the flood-affected zone for the safety of the population: hot food is distributed three times a day and medical and other services are available. Disinfection work is being carried out in flooded areas, especially in Sirvan, Sabirabad and Zardab. The epidemiological situation in these territories is now stable.

The president added that once the situation stabilizes, the government should calculate and compensate the damage caused by the flood and not confine measures to the restoration of houses. "Not only houses but also people's livestock, gardens and other property have been destroyed. People's sources of subsistence, so to speak, have been destroyed. We will certainly resettle them, restore their houses, but how are they supposed to live? In other words, all these issues must be dealt with together," President Aliyev stressed. 

The president reiterated that it was necessary to develop a comprehensive action plan to prevent such cataclysms in the future. Back at the first emergency meeting Mr. Aliyev had issued an instruction to complete this plan in the shortest possible time. To do that, certain changes need to be introduced to the state budget. The president said the necessary funds would be allocated this year. At the same time, the investment programme for the following year would envisage sufficient resources to protect the country from disaster to the maximum extent possible.

According to the president, riverbank protection work must be stepped up. "Every year we allocate significant amounts from the state budget for riverbank protection work. But the water destroys our work every year or once every two years, and we have to do it again. Therefore, these measures must be implemented comprehensively, once and for all," Aliyev said.

The head of state said it was unacceptable for local executive authorities to issue permission for the construction of houses in zones presenting a threat to those living there. This also impedes repair, construction and riverbank protection work. According to Mr. Aliyev, all the errors and, at times, even crimes committed in this sphere must be thoroughly investigated, those guilty should be punished, while people whose houses have to be moved to other places should receive compensation.

The cleaning of the Kur riverbed should be speeded up. Ilham Aliyev believes that this work is not organized at the desired level. The head of state is sure that "the riverbed rises every year because it is not cleaned properly."

The president also pointed to the catastrophic condition of some houses, not only in districts but also in some cities. In districts, for example, houses are built of cob brick, while in cities poor quality construction or wear and tear in buildings are widespread. Therefore, according to the president, the comprehensive action plan should also reflect the results of an inspection of all houses. "The collapse of a building in Baku due to the poor quality of construction resulted in an accident. Then the Ministry of Emergencies was instructed to examine all houses and acquire the necessary equipment. This means that today we should have everything necessary to inspect all houses in our districts. People living in run down and dilapidated houses should be resettled and paid compensation." This process, the president said, is already under way. 

The village can do it

Other issues that both government and the public are concerned about are the amount of damage inflicted by the disaster on agriculture and ways out of the crisis. Almost all spheres have been affected - plant and fruit crops and livestock. The floods have inflicted significant damage on almost 50,000 hectares of grain crops along the Araz and Kur rivers. The rains have caused a disease called yellow rust in grain. Other districts are also affected. However, the Ministry of Agriculture and other government agencies are exercising tight control over the situation. If necessary, people receive advice as to what to do with their crops during the remaining days of spring. The ministry and several other bodies are currently calculating the damage caused to livestock, poultry, sheep and goats. "The government has decided to pay compensation to farmers affected by the flood and, after an assessment has been made, the compensation will be paid," said Agriculture Minister Ismat Abbasov. The ministry does not expect that the floods to have a palpable impact on the country's food market. "All consequences of the disaster will be dealt with using market methods. Our agriculture is developing, and we don't expect any price hikes in the aftermath of the flood," Abbasov added. 

According to the national hydrometeorology department of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, rainfall will reduce in the latter half of May. Observations of the level of the Kur show that it had started receding in the Yevlax and Zardab Districts, while in areas located further downriver the level had increased slightly.