Caribbean: Hurricane Iris - Oct 2001

The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. The Federation is the world's largest humanitarian organization, and its millions of volunteers are active in over 180 countries. All international assistance to support vulnerable communities seeks to adhere to the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Disaster Response, according to the SPHERE Project.

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 178 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 178 countries. For more information: www.ifrc.org
Appeal Target: CHF 3,322,922 (USD 2.1 million; EUR 2.3 million) Beneficiaries/target groups (if available):
Period covered: I July - 30 September 2002
Last Programme Update (no. 2) issued 19 August 2002

IN BRIEF

Appeal coverage: 90.3%

Shipments from 1995 to March 31, 2002

This Final Report is intended for reporting on emergency appeals.
Appeal No. 33/01; Launched on: 12 October 2001 for three months for CHF 655,000 to assist 4,350 beneficiaries. Extended by four months to 31 May 2002.
Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) Allocated: None

IN BRIEF

Appeal coverage: 100.6%

This Programme Update is intended for reporting on Annual Appeals.
Appeal Target CHF 1,916,067
Period covered. 1 January - 31 May 2002.

"At a Glance"

Appeal coverage: 58.7%

Related Appeals: 01.19/2002 Central America; 01.20/2002 Guatemala; 01.21/2002 Honduras; 01.22/2002 South America; 01.23/2002 Caribbean

Outstanding needs: CHF 791,634 (USD 533,482/EUR 537,828)

This Annual Report is intended for reporting on the Federation's Annual Appeals only.

Central America needs help. Dismal weather, low coffee prices, social problems, and bad government make for a potentially explosive situation. Central America is just outside America's back yard. Mounting poverty, human suffering and threats to past political gains pose threats not only to the region but to the United States as well.

This Annual Report is intended for reporting on the Federation's Annual Appeals only.
Appeal Target: CHF 3,951,408 - revised 9 August to CHF 3,155,099 - USD1.9m / EUR2.lm

"At a Glance"

Appeal coverage: 86.1 %
Related Appeals: 01.25/2001 Pan-American Disaster Response Unit; 01.27/2001 Guatemala; 01.28/2001 Honduras; 01.29/2001 Nicaragua

This Annual Report is intended for reporting on the Federation's Annual Appeals only.
Appeal Target: CHF 4,447,824 (USD 2.7ml EUR 3m)

"At a Glance"

Appeal coverage: 54.8%

Related Appeals: 01.23/2002

SPEECH/02/156
Mr Poul Nielson
European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid

The people of the Central American countries have recently seen their livelihoods battered by a combination of natural disasters: hurricanes, drought, earthquakes, and even volcanic eruptions. In addition, they are facing economic problems such as low world prices for their major exports, notably coffee. The impact has been severe. Acute malnutrition, especially among children, is reported in several rural communities in Guatemala. In Nicaragua, thousands of destitute coffee farmers have reportedly migrated to the cities in search of employment.

Managua (dpa) - Ten years after civil conflict and natural disasters battered the region, Central America is struggling today as more than half of its 31 million inhabitants live in poverty.

prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) shows that five of the six Central American nations rate very poorly in areas such as life expectancy, education and per capita income.

Of the 162 countries included in the human development index, only Costa Rica, in position number 41, is ranked as a nation with "high human development''.

By Cecilio Martínez in Guatemala City

Launched on 12 October 2001 for CHF 655,000 for three months.
Beneficiaries: 4,350
Period covered: 1 November - 8 January 2002
Last Operations Update issued. 14 November 2001
"At a Glance"

Appeal coverage: 99.6%
Related Appeals: 01.32/01 Caribbean regional programmes
Outstanding needs: None

A Country Recovers

World Food Programme

by Cristina Estrada in Belize

The 2001 hurricane season was above average.

In December 2000 Professor William M Gray et al, forecasted that the 2001 hurricane season would be a below average hurricane season. However, at the beginning of the 2001 hurricane season, this team updated their forecast on June 07, 2001 to indicate that the season would be above average consisting of 12 named storms, 7 hurricanes and 3 intense hurricanes. The long-term averages are: Tropical Storms-10, Hurricanes-6 and Major Hurricanes-2. (NOAA, 2001).