On January 15 representatives at the policy making level will be meeting to discuss future actions needed for a standard Disaster Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (DANA) system for Guyana.

The meeting will be guided by the recommendations submitted from a multi-stakeholder workshop organized by the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) on disaster damage assessment and needs analysis and an integrated web based management platform which began today at Regency Suites on Hadfield Street.

This three-day workshop is aimed at upgrading

Guyana, located on the north-east coast of South America, is subject to Atlantic swells and high-intensity seasonal rainfall. The coastal zone, which lies near or below sea-level, supports 90% of the population and is the administrative, agricultural, commercial and industrial center of the country. As a result of the dynamic interplay between high tides, high rainfall levels, and a network of drainage and irrigation canals, conservancy dams and sluices designed to support agriculture, the coastal zone is at high risk to flooding. Also, flood and drought risks

In brief

Goal: National Societies in the Caribbean region are implementing efficient, responsive and focused programmes that contribute to improving the lives of vulnerable people. These programmes are aligned with the International Federation's Global Agenda, which sets out four broad goals to meet the Federation's mission to "improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity".

Programme Summary: The fragility

This report covers the period of 01/01/06 to 31/12/06 of a two-year planning and appeal process.

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:

Following the decisions at the General

3. Disaster Response

In 2006, Latin Americ and the Caribbean were spared major disasters of the magnitude of Tropical Storm Stan (2005) or Hurricane Ivan (2004). However, many other emergency situations posed serious concerns and required substantial technical support from PAHO/WHO. A review of these situations in which PAHO worked with member states to respond to pressing health issues is provided below.

Unusually high seasonal rainfall at the end of 2005 caused widespread flooding in several Regions of Guyana in

In Brief

Appeal No. MAA49001; Programme Update no. 2, Period covered: 1 April to 31 July 2006; 2006 Appeal Coverage: 66.4%; Outstanding needs for 2006: CHF 1,184,070 (USD 985,921 or EUR 745,436).

2006 and 2007 Appeal target: CHF

To the Member States:

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Pan American Health Organization, I have the honor of presenting the 2005-2006 annual report on the activities of the Pan American Sanitary Bureau, Regional Office of the World Health Organization. The report highlights technical cooperation that has taken place during this period, especially the progress made in reducing gaps in health, to

Appeal target: CHF 1,743,194 (USD 1,365,946 or EUR 1,128,362)

Related Emergency or Annual Appeals: Guyana: Floods (05EA001), Caribbean: Hurricanes Dennis & Emily (05EA015), Bahamas, Cuba and Mexico: Hurricane Wilma (05EA024), Pan American Disaster Response Unit Annual Appeal (05AA040), Haiti Annual Appeal (05AA042).

Programme summary: As an added impetus to the scaling up of HIV/AIDS activities and in order to support the implementation of the flagship "Together We Can" methodology, additional

The relief efforts have been relatively successful. A second wave of deaths was avoided. No massive population movements took place. No epidemics broke out. More than 500,000 tents were delivered; some 5 million-iron sheets were distributed; over 6 million blankets/quilts were provided. A nutrition survey