1 - Rationale, needs and target population :

1.1. - Rationale :

The Caribbean region experiences multiple natural disasters. Tropical storms often take the form of a hurricane1, and the hurricane season lasts for six months. There are also floods, flash floods, tsunamis, landslides and mudslides. Some islands suffer from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The physical risk is combined with socioeconomic factors, such as high population density, fast demographic growth and great poverty. The combination of these factors results in very vulnerable communities,

Situation

Six-months after four major hurricanes -- Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne -- and tropical storm Bonnie -- wreaked havoc in the state, Floridians still face challenges rebuilding their lives and homes. During a grueling six-week period, beginning August 12, 2004, the five systems caused 130 fatalities and an estimated $60 billion in damage to the state. No state has sustained similar devastation from natural disaster in such a short period time in more than 100 years.

He said the push for creative partnerships was a new directive from USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios.

"Essential to achieving our vision for prosperity in the hemisphere is the notion of partnerships.... especially partnerships in pursuit of President Bush's free trade agenda, partnerships

Wednesday, December 01, 2004 -- American Red Cross volunteers around the country are breathing a collective sigh of relief thanks to the official end of hurricane season on November 30th. This year's season was one of unprecedented storms and an equally unprecedented response from the Red Cross and other relief agencies.

The Red Cross began to mobilize its staff and volunteers on Aug. 11, in advance of the arrival of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley, expected to land in the Gulf Coast. While

The OAS' Acting Secretary General, Ambassador Luigi Einaudi, presented the $20,000 check to Ambassador Joshua Sears of The Bahamas, during a brief ceremony held at the Organization's headquarters.

Washington D.C. - The United States is launching a $100 million hurricane recovery program from Congressionally provided funds to assist the nations of the Caribbean hit by the recent hurricanes in the region. This additional $100 million will bring the total U.S. response to the disasters in the Caribbean up to $46 million for Haiti, $46.7 million for Grenada, $22.2 million for Jamaica and $2.5 million for other islands. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will administer this program.

The U.S. assistance program in Haiti

The United States is launching a $100 million hurricane recovery program as part of our commitment to helping the nations of the Caribbean hit hardest by Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.

This $100 million in assistance is in addition to our initial disaster assistance totalling $19.4 million. It will give urgent attention to restoring people's livelihoods and shelter while reducing the region's vulnerability to similar events in the future.

The primary targeted countries under

In May 2004, the U.S. National Hurricane Center called for a 50% probability of an above-normal hurricane season. Several of these storms battered the Caribbean and parts of the U.S, leaving a wake of devastation. Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne proved to be most deadly, reminding us that disaster preparedness efforts cannot cease.

HURRICANE JEANNE

Haiti

Jeanne had already been downgraded to a tropical storm when it hit Haiti, but nonetheless, heavy rains caused serious flash floods in the Artibonite and North West departments of the