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Dominica

Dominica - Hurricane Situation Report No.3

Ref: DHAGVA - 95/0421
SITUATION

1. FROM NIGHTFALL MONDAY 4 TO ABOUT MIDDAY TUESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER HURRICANE LUIS LASHED DOMINICA WITH HEAVY WINDS, ACCOMPANIED BY HEAVY RAINFALL AND EXTREMELY HIGH WAVES FOR NEARLY 18 HOURS. THIS REPORT IS IN ADDITION TO THE GLOBAL CARIBBEAN - HURRICANE LUIS SITUATION REPORTS.

2. ASSESSMENT GIVEN BY THE OFFICE OF DISASTER PREPAREDNESS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF DOMINICA ESTIMATE THE COST OF REHABILITATION OF EC$ 127,730,000 (1 EC$ = US$ 2.7) EXCLUDING DAMAGE TO THE PUBLIC UTILITY SERVICES. THE REPORT IS AVAILABLE WITH THE DHA DESK ON REQUEST. SO FAR NO GOVERNMENT REPORT RECEIVED ON HURRICANE MARILYN BUT THE UN INTERAGENCY ASSESSMENT TEAM CDERA REPORTED OF HUNDREDS OF HOUSES DAMAGED.

3. THE UNUSUAL HEAVY SEAS DAMAGED COASTAL DEFENCE STRUCTURES, PORTS, HARBOURS AND BEACHES, RESULTING IN WIDE-SPREAD DAMAGE TO COASTAL ROADS, RIVERS OVERFLOWING DAMAGED BRIDGES. RAIN CAUSED INNUMERABLE LANDSLIDES BLOCKING BOTH MAIN AND FEEDER ROADS. VILLAGE WATER SYSTEMS WERE CUT, POWER SHUT DOWN RADIO, AND TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS WERE INTERRUPTED. A SMALL NUMBER OF HOUSES (80) WERE DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BUT MAJOR DAMAGE WAS REPORTED ON ONE HOTEL IN PORTSMOUTH AND FIVE HOTELS IN ROSEAU.

4. AGRICULTURE: 90 PER CENT OF BANANA ACREAGE WAS KNOCKED DOWN AND 50 PER CENT OF TREE CROP PRODUCTION WAS DESTROYED. OTHER CROPS LIKE CITRUS, AVOCADO, PLANTAIN, BREADFRUIT, ANTHURIUM AND PASSION FRUIT SUFFERED LOSSES UP TO 80 PER CENT. IN TOTAL A PRODUCTION LOSS OF EC$ 25,891,928 IS ESTIMATED. IN ADDITION LOSSES PARTLY STILL TO BE ASSESSED OCCURRED IN THE SECTORS OF LIVESTOCK, FISHERIES, FORESTRY AND ENVIRONMENT.

5. TWO DEATHS WERE REPORTED AND OTHER PERSONS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

REGIONAL ACTION

6. INTER-AGENCY TEAM (CDERA, CARIBBEAN DISASTER RELIEF UNIT (CDRU), UNDP/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR AND PAHO) IS ASSESSING THE SITUATION IN THE REGION. EASTERN CARIBBEAN DONOR GROUP MEETING REGULARLY IN BARBADOS UNDER CHAIRMANSHIP OF UNDP/DHA RESIDENT COORDINATOR.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

7. THE GOVERNMENT ASSESSED THE DAMAGE AND PREPARED A PROGRAMME FOR RECONSTRUCTION OF INFRASTRUCTURE AND REHABILITATION OF AFFECTED SECTORS INCLUDING AN EMERGENCY ACTION PROGRAMME FOR THE AGRICULTURE WORTH EC$15.2 MIO. ALONE. THE ESTIMATATION FOR REHABILITATION AND RECONSTRUCTION COULD APPROACH ABOUT EC$ 175 FOR ALL AFFECTED SECTORS. THE PERMANENT MISSION IN GENEVA IS IN CONSTANT CONTACT WITH DHA.

NEEDS IN INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE (IDENTIFIED)

8. US$ 100,000 FOR SCHOOL REHABILITATION. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO PREPARE A PROPOSAL FOR THE REHABILITATION OF COASTAL AREAS.

CONTRIBUTIONS REPORTED TO DHA-GENEVA IN US DRLS

9. UN SYSTEM

DHA-GENEVA EMERGENCY GRANT - 50,000

10. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS A CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED DURING IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE UN SYSTEM, DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION OF UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.

11. DHA PISA WAREHOUSE CAN BE USED AS AN ASSEMBLY POINT FOR SHIPMENTS, TO AFFECTED AREA, WHETHER GOODS COME DIRECTLY FROM DONORS OR FROM OTHER WAREHOUSES.

12. TRANSFERS OF FUNDS SHOULD BE MADE TO DHA ACCOUNT NUMBER CO-590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770, CH - 1211 GENEVA 2, WITH FOLLOWING REFERENCE: DOMINICA - HURRICANE LUIS, DHA-GENEVA.

13. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF BILATERAL RELIEF MISSION, PLEDGES, CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.

TELEPHONE NO. +41-22/917.12.34
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY ONLY: TEL NO. +41-22/917.20.10
DESK OFFICER: Mr. GERHARD MORTIER DIRECT TEL. +41-22/917.13.94.
PRESS TO CONTACT: MS. M. MOULIN-ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL. +41-22/917.28.56
TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22/917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: INTERNET DHAGVA AT UN. ORG

DPR 310 DMI 95 (1)