In a world of global challenges, continued poverty, inequity, and increasing vulnerability to disasters and disease, the International Federation with its global network, works to accomplish its Global Agenda, partnering with local community and civil society to prevent and alleviate human suffering from disasters, diseases and public health emergencies.

In brief

Programme Summary:

- This reporting period, June to October 2007, has unfortunately seen the Caribbean suffer yet another devastating

Los países que requirieron la asistencia de los expertos de Naciones Unidas fueron México, la Rep=FAblica Dominicana, Honduras, Belice, Jamaica, Perú, Uruguay y Bolivia, adonde viajaron dos delegaciones.

Los desastres en la región incluyeron inundaciones, huracanes, tormentas tropicales y terremotos.

En total, la OCHA despachó durante el

Press Release No:2008/164/LAC

WASHINGTONDC, December 20, 2007— The World Bank’s Board of Directors today approved a US$10 million emergency loan to support the Government of Jamaica in implementing its Sustainable Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan (SRRP) for recovery from the Hurricane Dean disaster, and to strengthen its ability to respond to future adverse natural events.

Thirty two fishermen of the Hellshire Fishing Village in Portmore, St. Catherine, are to each receive a voucher valued at Jam $10,000 on November 23. The fishermen lost their fishing equipment during Dean's passage in August.

The vouchers, which are redeemable at the Jamaica Fishermen Cooperative Credit Union, will be used to purchase fishing pots, nets and other fishing accessories which were destroyed.

JRC Director of Emergency Services Marcia

Several persons, whose houses were destroyed during the onslaught of Hurricane Dean, should start receiving assistance from the Government by as early as next week, under the Housing Reconstruction Programme.

Minister of Water and Housing, Dr. Horace Chang, who made this disclosure at the weekly post-Cabinet press briefing on (Nov. 6) at Jamaica House, said the programme, which is expected to cost the government some $1 billion during the fiscal year, will involve the relocation of persons, who are located in flood-prone areas, and the

THE EVENT:

Tropical Storm Noel affected the CDERA Participating States of Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and the Bahamas from Monday October 29, 2007 to Friday November 2, 2007.

The heavy rains associated with this system caused landslides and severe flooding to the Bahamas and Jamaica. The situation on the ground is improving as the water has begun to recede.

Two confirmed deaths have been attributed to Noel.

THE BAHAMAS

The National Emergency Management Agency

Since the end of 2006, several natural disasters have affected food and cash crop production in Latin America and the Caribbean. Their impact on rural development and food security has been varied. It went from moderate crop losses and localized effects as in the case, for example, of floods in Central America in September 2007 or the cold wave in Peru in June 2007, to significant damage to the overall economy as a consequence of the passage of powerful hurricanes over some Caribbean state islands.

In many cases, natural disasters have