A Case Study of the Massive Zeyzoun Dam Collapse. Dr

World Water Week 200916-22 AugustWorkshop 5 – Safe Water Services in Post-conflictand Post-disaster Context19 August

•General facts about SyriaArea: 185,000 Km2, Population:18 Million, Syria depends on surface and ground water (springs andwells) for agricultural sector and domestic supply. Agriculture is the largest consumer of water (about85%) and the economy of the country depends directly on it (30%GDP). Water management has focusedin the last 4 decades on water supply, (160) dams were built, large irrigation projects to supply cities andvillages with water to encourage agricultural and industrial expansion.

Water Challenges in Syriaa) Aridity (low rainfall and high evaporation),b) Population growths,c) Deterioration in water quality,d) Social and economic development,e) Complexity in hydropolitics (watersharing/conflict) (almost 70% of total resources),f) Efficiency in water distribution and use,g) Public awareness and education,h) Water strategies/ institution/human resources,i) Competition among agriculture, industry andcities for limited water supplies is alreadyconstraining development efforts in many parts ofthe country like Damascus, Aleppo, Homs andHama, and this will intensify, causing difficultiesin specific regions.PalmyraSebkhaThe Oasis•

Zeyzoun Dam Collapse June 2002The Zeyzoun earth dam was the fourth largest dam inSyria (hight 43. length 5 km, located some 90 kmnorth-west of the town of Hama, approximately 300 kmnorth of Damascus, started developing cracks in theretention wall in the early hours of 4 June 2002. Ataround 15:00, the initial trickle of water give way to amassive outpour, which led to the progressive collapseof a section of the dam’s wall approximately 40 metershigh and 100 meters wide.In about one hour, over 70 million cubic meters ofwater flooded an area estimated in 60 square km.The flooded area included mostly agricultural land,mercifully with a relatively low population density.The following villages were affected: Zeyzoun(population 1,000), Al-Imshiak (1,344), Gargoor(2,366) and Tel Wasit (1,696).

Zeyzoun DamCollapse June2002This false-color image takenon June 5, 2002, (bottom) bythe Moderate-resolutionImaging Spectroradiometer(MODIS) instrument aboardNASA’s Terra satellite showsthe extent of the flooding.Normally, there would be nowater present in the center ofthe image (top, acquired onJune 3, 2002).In this false-color image, theground is sage green andrusty orange, and water isblack. Clouds appear pink.Before CollapseAfter Collapse

Zeyzoun Dam Collapse June 20021) Local communities were devastated by thecollapse of the Zeyzoun dam, north of the city ofHama, bursts, dumping nearly all of its 71m cubicmetres of water over 60 square km of farmland andswamping several villages.2) Over and above the already serious impact of thedisaster on the population directly affected (loss ofhouses, property, agricultural products and livestock),3) It must be considered that the economy of an entireagricultural region would be severely affected by thesudden disappearance of the major source ofirrigation water available.4) It was confirmed that some 20 people have beenkilled and over 10,000 people were directly affectedby this incident to varying degrees, with at least 2,000rendered completely homeless.

Zeyzoun Dam Collapse June 20025) Damage to human settlements varies from the totaldestruction of the village of Zeyzoun, located next to thedam, to partial destruction of settlements locatedbetween 2 and 3 km from the dam, to flooding of theground floor of houses in villages further away.6) According to the latest estimates, there were about251 houses completely destroyed, some 121 partiallydestroyed, and about 200 damaged. Sixty kilometers ofroads were reported by the government to be damaged.7) Also damage on the electric power lines and thetelecommunication system was reported.8) Two schools were reportedly completely destroyedand at least three damaged.9) One health center was partially damaged but stillfunctioning and one of the storehouses of theagricultural credit bank was reported to be damaged.10) It is estimated that up to 8,000 hectares of arableland have been submerged for up to a week.

National ResponseSyrian Central Government: The Government of Syria has set up a NationalEmergency Committee chaired by the Prime Minister. The Central Government hasallocated the necessary financial resources, and has provided food and non-foodrelief to the affected people.Hama Provincial Government: the Provincial Government of Hama established anEmergency Co-ordination Committee, chaired by the Governor of Hama. Thiscommittee includes all principal provincial sectors.The emergency committee has formed four sub-groups to address specific areas ofinterest, namely an assessment committee to assess damage to agriculture,infrastructure, public property and private property.The military authorities: have been involved in the response to this incident,particularly for the early evacuation of people most at risk.The Syrian Red Crescent Society: has channelled the assistance of the RedCross/Red Crescent Movement (including donations from the United Arab EmiratesRed Crescent and the incoming substantial assistance from the InternationalFederation of the Red Cross).

International ResponseUnited Nations Agencies and other international organizations (OCHA,UNDAC, UNICFE, UNHCR, UNDOF, UNFPA, WFP, WHO, IOM, IFRC):The UN Country Team in Syria, immediately established a coordinating mechanism to bringtogether the UN response and to establish a common interface with government authorities, aswell as with bilateral and multilateral donors.UNDP of Syria worked with local authorities on plans in the post-disasterrehabilitation project which was designed around 5 pillars:1) A survey of the socio-economic and environmental situation in the aftermath of thedisaster; 2) A technical, economic and environmental study of the physical rehabilitation ofthe region including the dam and the irrigation system; 3) Micro finance pilot schemes tosupport income generating activities; 4) Capacity building for local community participation inthe rehabilitation process; 5) Building local government capacity in coordination andresource mobilization.Both the Syrian authorities and the UN Office in Syria provided every possible support for themission, including full access to their information, documents, and facilities.Bilateral Donors:Algeria, Japan, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, FrenchCommunication Sans Frontiere.

Disaster ManagementSince the failure of Zeyzoun Dam in June 2002, the awareness of the safe dammanagement has been rising rapidly.This disaster has served as an eye-opener for the planners and it has indicated the perilsof rapid development in this region and other similar areas to the Zeyzoun region.This disaster, as a man-made incident, demonstrates the necessity to improve theemergency management capacity and contingency planning in the country.The role of prevention and preparedness is clearly recognized as being the mosteffective form of defence against disaster. This capacity should be strengthened byappropriate international assistance.

Strategic Goals & ChallengesEffective integration of disaster risk and managementconsiderations into sustainable development policies.Challenges & Constraints:1) Laws & legislations which organize the work of disasters and coordinationmechanisms among them on the local & national levels.2) Lack of public awareness on general safety measures.3) Lack of general safety rules in designing building, establishments andinfrastructure.

Strategic Goals & ChallengesThe development and strengthening of institutions, mechanisms andcapacities at all levels, in particular at the community level, that cansystematically contribute to building resilience to hazards.Challenges & Constraints:1) Lack of qualified & well trained staffs that contributes to different disastermitigation.2) Lack in equipments needed for disaster mitigation.3) Weakness of specialized centers in conducting studies & measurements fordisasters prediction and the ability to analyze previous disasters for futurebenefits.

Strategic Goals & ChallengesThe systematic incorporation of risk reduction approaches intothe design and implementation of emergency preparedness,response and recovery programmes in the reconstruction ofaffected communities.Challenges & Constraints1) Lack in accuracy of the available databases of governorates equipmentnecessary for dealing with disasters.2) Lack of using modern systems & techniques in disasters managementand lack of qualified staff to work on these systems.

OutlookIt is difficult to completely avoid similar accidents in the future. Many other dams exist inSyria, and it is important to take the necessary steps for a better prevention andpreparedness arrangements, as well as for an increased awareness of existing hazards andassociated risks for surrounding populations.The aims1) Obtain a high ability in disaster reduction & mitigation.2) The ability to analyze disasters for future benefits.3) Providing all citizens with needed awareness level in case of any disaster occurs anddealing with it correctly before, during and after disaster.4) using Geionformation technologies (GNSS, GIS, RS) in monitoring and risk reduction

World Water Week 2009Workshop 5 – Safe Water Services in Post-conflict and Post-disaster ContextTHANKYOU