Grenada

Only 15 countries worldwide have three essential national policies that support families with young children – UNICEF

New report says around 85 million children under five live in 32 countries that do not offer families two years of free pre-primary education; paid breastfeeding breaks for new mothers for the first six months; and adequate paid parental leave – three critical policies to support children’s early brain development

The Caribbean has been buffeted by an exceptional number of intense storms and hurricanes this year. In the space of just a few days, Hurricane Irma has been followed by Hurricanes José and Maria, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Hurricane Irma formed near Cabo Verde towards the end of August and, according to the US National Hurricane Center, was the strongest hurricane on record to form in the Atlantic Ocean.

At least one person was killed and two people are missing in the aftermath of category 5 hurricane, Maria which hit the Caribbean islands on 18 September, according to initial reports.

Guadeloupe did not face Maria’s direct impact unlike Dominica, which was caught in the eye of the hurricane.

MESSAGE:

Hurricane Maria becomes an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane as it directly impacts Dominica during the next few hours.

THE SITUATION:

Resumen de la situación en las Américas

Desde la semana epidemiológica (SE) 44 de 2016 ningún nuevo país o territorio de las Américas confirmó transmisión autóctona vectorial de Zika; por lo que se mantiene en 48 el número de países y territorios de las Américas que confirmaron casos autóctonos por transmisión vectorial de Zika y en cinco el número de países que notificaron casos de Zika transmitidos sexualmente (Figura 1).

Situation Summary in the Americas

Since epidemiological week (EW) 44 of 2016, no additional countries or territories of the Americas have confirmed autochthonous, vector-borne transmission of Zika virus disease. To date, 48 countries and territories in the Americas have confirmed autochthonous, vectorborne transmission of Zika virus disease, while five countries have reported sexually transmitted Zika cases.

North America

This 12-month report reflects progress against the objectives as well as a revised budget to reflect changes within budgetary lines. The Haiti Red Cross Society began responding to the Zika outbreak in April 2017 through support made available from USAID within this Emergency Appeal. Their work is coordinated from the IFRC Caribbean Cluster office and a revised budget supports their inclusion in this Operation. In addition, the appeal has been extended for an additional 4 months (ending on 31 December 2017).

Key figures (October 2015 – 26 July 2017)

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Aug 7 2017 (IPS) - Since 2013, Jamaica’s Met Office has been using its Climate Predictability Tool (CPT) to forecast ‘below average’ rainfall or drought across the island. The tool has allowed this northern Caribbean island to accurately predict several dry periods and droughts, including its most destructive episode in 2014 when an estimated one billion dollars in agricultural losses were incurred due to crop failures and wild fires caused by the exceptionally dry conditions.

OFID Quarterly examines the wellbeing, safety of children across the world

Vienna, Austria, August 2, 2017. “I like schnitzels, but some food, I don't like,” says 14 year-old Shokria, who is originally from Afghanistan. “I miss some special food from Afghanistan.” Shokria left her home when her father was killed and has been in Vienna for nearly two years. Her story is just one of many perspectives on child refugees examined by the July edition of the OFID Quarterly magazine, which is circulating as of today.

Situation summary in the Americas

Since epidemiological week (EW) 44 of 2016, no additional countries or territories of the Americas have confirmed autochthonous, vector-borne transmission of Zika virus disease. To date, 48 countries and territories in the Americas have confirmed autochthonous, vectorborne transmission of Zika virus disease,while five countries have reported sexually transmitted Zika cases.

The following is a summary of the epidemiological situation by sub-regions.

North America

Message: Tropical Storm Warning still in effect for Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Tropical Storm Watch discontinued for Barbados and Saint Lucia.

The Situation:

The latest advisory issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida at 5:00 PM AST (1200 UTC), shows the center of Tropical Storm Don located near latitude 11.7 North, longitude 60.0 West. TS Don is about 135 miles southeast of St Vincent and about 120 miles east-southeast of Grenada.

Tropical Storm (TS) Don, the fourth named Storm for the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season formed near the Windward Islands on July 17, 2017. TS Don impacted Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and sections of Trinidad and Tobago during Tuesday night, July 18, 2017. TS Don accelerated westward as it approached Grenada around 8:00pm at a speed of 23 mph (37km/h) and brought maximum sustained winds near 40 mph (65km/h) with higher gusts

THE SITUATION

By Desmond Brown

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, Jul 20 2017 (IPS) - The Caribbean accounts for seven of the world’s top 36 water-stressed countries and Barbados is in the top ten. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) defines countries like Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis as water-scarce with less than 1000 m3 freshwater resources per capita.

With droughts becoming more seasonal in nature in the Caribbean, experts say agriculture is the most likely sector to be impacted, with serious economic and social consequences.

Resumen

RESPONSE HIGHLIGHTS

• UNICEF is now implementing Care and Support activity for families affected by Congenital ZIKV Syndrome in Dominican Republic, Honduras, Guatemala, Brazil and Belize. To date 556 families across the region have benefited from non-clinical care and support interventions.