IP/98/1043
Brussels, 30 November 1998 - The European Commission has cleared humanitarian aid worth ECU 2.8 million for victims of Hurricane Georges in the Caribbean. The aid, managed by the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), will enable non-governmental organisations to carry out a programme of emergency aid over the next six months. The programme will cover the following countries: St Kitts, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba.

Over 400 people died and about a quarter of a million are homeless after a devastating hurricane that swept the

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Nov 22 (AFP) - US First Lady Hillary Clinton wrapped up her Central American Caribbean tour here Sunday with offers of new US hurricane relief and humanitarian aid to Haiti.

"The people of Haiti are strong people and we will help you rebuild your homes and plant your crops because we want to help you build a better life for yourselves, your children and your grandchildren," Clinton told a group of Haitians repairing an irrigation system.

The 2.1 million dollars in new aid pushed the total US relief for Hurricane Georges to 14.1 million dollars.

In only four days, hurricane "Georges" swept away any chances of economic recovery in several of the small island states of the Caribbean, ravaged last year by the weather phenonemon El Niño. Drought induced by El Niño greatly reduced 1997-98 crop yields throughout the region, and any hopes for a recovery this year have been thwarted by Georges' brief but devastating rampage, according to a recently released FAO report.
Between 20 and 25 September, the hurricane hit most island states in the region with torrential rains, widespread

appeal no. 29/98
situation report no. 1
period covered: 2 - 12 October 1998
Relief and clean-up operations are underway in the Caribbean after the onslaught by Hurricane Georges which left 500 people dead and 300,000 still in temporary shelters. National Societies in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti and the Eastern Caribbean islands of Antigua and St. Kitts are being supported in relief, clean-up and rehabilitation operations by the International Federation, which launched an Appeal on 2 October for CHF 10,221,000.

The context

Plans of action have been finalised and/or

Note: Future Hurricane Georges fact sheets may be released on a periodic basis, as additional information on continuing relief initiatives becomes available.

Summary

BHR/OFDA assessment activities have ended in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and the eastern Caribbean, and recommendations have been reviewed for additional disaster assistance. Further USG response is not expected in the eastern Caribbean; however, other lifesaving relief interventions or disaster mitigation activities may be funded in Haiti and the Dominican Republic - contingent upon ongoing assessment efforts

CHURCH WORLD SERVICE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE OFFICE
34 Denominations & Communions Working Together to Meet Human Needs
EXPANDED EMERGENCY APPEAL: HURRICANE GEORGES
(Addressing needs in Puerto Rico, Haiti, Cuba and the Dominican Republic)
EMERGENCY ACCOUNT #976234 for $150,000

Signed by the Rev. Dr. Rodney Page, CWS Executive Director

SITUATION: Continuing assessments in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Georges now show the toll at 45,000 homes destroyed and another 45,000 with severe damage, and considerable

"In the wake of Hurricane Georges, our aid workers in the Caribbean are assessing devastating damage across the island from the Dominican Republic's capital Santo Domingo to rural Cap-Haitian on Haiti's coast," says World Vision President Dave Toycen. World Vision is preparing an emergency relief response.
"I'm particularly concerned for the children who always suffer most in the midst of disaster," says Toycen.

First field reports indicate that many houses in rural areas are still under water from overflowing rivers. Aid

At least 370 people lost their lives and several hundred thousand are homeless after Hurricane Georges hit Antigua, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, St. Kitts and other Caribbean nations last week. The UN Resident Coordinator in the Dominican Republic, Paolo Oberti, surveyed the most affected areas by air, assessing damage and urgent needs. In Haiti, an assessment team is consulting with national authorities, UN agencies, donors and NGOs to determine the immediate needs of the population. In Cuba, the hurricane caused extensive damage to important agricultural crops. UNDP has made funding

Appeal Target : US$ 920,135
Geneva, October 4, 1998

Dear Colleagues,