"At a glance"

The Disaster/Situation: Hurricane Lenny, which struck on 17 November 1999, affected most particularly the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Anguilla and Saint Martin. The worst affected were low-income families living in coastal areas whose homes were damaged

As a result of Hurricane Lenny, assessments indicate that the vast majority of the damage was to infrastructure and the environment, especially coastal roads, sea defenses, docks, and beaches. The widespread destruction in the Eastern Caribbean has negatively impacted numerous industries, including agriculture, fishing, natural resources management, and tourism. The humanitarian needs are not overwhelming and primarily consist of relief supplies and assistance for persons who lost their homes. The affected countries' governments judge the primary

• As a result of Hurricane Lenny, assessments indicate that the vast majority of the damage was to infrastructure and the environment, especially coastal roads, sea defenses, docks, and beaches. The widespread destruction in the Eastern Caribbean has negatively impacted numerous industries, including agriculture, fishing, natural resources management, and tourism. The humanitarian needs are not overwhelming and primarily consist of relief supplies and assistance for persons who lost their homes. The affected countries' governments judge the primary

General Situation

1. Hurricane Lenny has mostly affected Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the island of St. Marteen.

2. According to damage assessment missions carried out by national authorities and regional agencies, (PAHO, OFDA, CDERA, Red Cross National Societies), damage to infrastructures such as ports, sea defenses and road networks has been severe.

3. Preliminary reports by CDERA

1.0 INTRODUCTION

Following on the decision to assist countries in expediting their respective damage assessment process, Regional Teams have been deployed to the affected States. Funding for this effort was made possible by the Eastern Caribbean Donors Group as provided for in their Operations Order. The CDERA Coordinating Unit is coordinating this effort on behalf of the Group and will serve as the information-clearing house for receiving and disseminating information from the field.

2.0 PRELIMINARY REPORTS

FEMA Director James Lee Witt said President Clinton authorized the assistance under a major disaster declaration issued for the territory this afternoon following a review of damage assessment data submitted by the agency. The declaration covers damage to private and public property from Lenny, which began buffeting the territory with

Press Release - GA/9665
Deeply concerned about the fact that natural disasters continued to claim high numbers of casualties and cause immense material damage globally, and that the frequency and magnitude of such catastrophes were an ever increasing material and moral burden to States, the General Assembly this morning asked the Secretary-General, through the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, to formulate the modalities for the utilization of the Standby Disaster Response Unit by the relevant agencies of the United Nations system.

On its way through the northern parts of the Eastern Caribbean on Thursday 18 and Friday 19 November the hurricane caused considerable damage on the island of St. Martin, where currently electricity, water and telephone lines have been cut, and more than 200 houses destroyed. No reports have been received from the other island in

Region Responds to Islands affected by Hurricane Lenny

INTRODUCTION

Whilst Hurricane Lenny continues to adversely affect the Eastern Caribbean, Countries have begun the tedious process of assessing damage and restoring normalcy whilst remaining vigilant for any further disruptions from this very unpredictable storm system. As the picture of the damages suffered by Countries unfold, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency has taken on the challenge of coordinating in conjunction with the Eastern Caribbean Donors Group, an appropriate response