Attachments
Overview
The first Category 5 Atlantic Hurricane since 2007, Hurricane Matthew caused widespread destruction along its wake in several countries including Lesser Antilles, Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba, the Bahamas and the United States. Formed near the Windward Islands on 28 September 2016, the hurricane continued over the Caribbean resulting in catastrophic damages including loss of human lives and an estimated overall damage of over 5 Billion USD.
On 4 October 2016, Matthew made a landfall on the Tiburon Peninsula of Haiti. With over 1000 people dead, Haiti has been one of the most impacted countries with an estimated loss of over a billion USD. Preliminary assessment has shown devastating damages to houses, roads and bridges disrupting aid movement in several departments in the Tiburon Peninsula. It has been reported that 2,128,700 people, or 12% of Haiti’s population, have been affected and ~1.5 million people are in need of humanitarian aid (OCHA Haiti Flash Appeal). This report provides a summary of satellite analysis with a focus on one of the most affected areas in Haiti, Grand’Anse Département, with over 80% of population identified to be in need of humanitarian aid.
UNOSAT’s Satellite Support Analysis
UNITAR-UNOSAT on behalf of UN OCHA activated the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters on 05 October 2016 to support planning and coordination of emergency response operations with satellite analysis covering areas affected by Hurricane Matthew. Project Manager (PM) nominated for this Charter Call is Pacific Disaster Center while UNOSAT along with other satellite mapping groups (Copernicus EMS, USGS) are supporting the Charter Call by providing (satellite-derived) value-added analysis & mapping products.
Priority Areas of Interest (AOIs) for satellite imagery acquisition submitted by UNOSAT to the Charter have been requested by UN OCHA and UNCT based on operational requirements to assist most affected communities living in rural and urban areas in Grand South departments (Grand’Anse, Nippes, and South). To support planning and coordination of emergency response operations, UNOSAT has released a Preliminary Population Exposure Analysis Report based on spatial demographic, cyclone track & wind speed data available as well a Preliminary Satellite Based Damage Assessment Report based on analysis carried out in Jeremie and Roseaux Commune (Area 1) and Abricot, Dame-Marie, Anse d’Hainaults and Les Irois Commune (Area 2) and surrounding areas.
UNOSAT is also supporting UNOCHA, UNCT and UNDAC team deployed to hurricane affected areas in Haiti with the overall coordination of satellite analysis. All completed, current and planned analysis areas covered by UNOSAT as well as by other mapping groups can be viewed through GDACS’ Satellite Mapping and Coordination System (SMCS).
UNOSAT’s satellite derived analysis
This report describes preliminary building damage analysis carried out by UNITAR-UNOSAT covering Area 1 (Jeremie and Roseaux Commune), Area 2 (Abricot, Dame-Marie, Anse d’Hainaults and Les Irois Communes) and Area 4 (Tiburon Commune) for a total area of approximately 810 Km2 .
Building damage analysis, including a rapid assessment of transportation network conditions and locations of spontaneous people gathering sites, was conducted by comparing the post-disaster satellite images (Pleiades acquired on 7/10/2016 for AOI1, Pleiades acquired on 12/10/2016 for AOI2 and Worldview-2 acquired on 9/10/2016 & 17/10/2016 for AOI4) with available pre-disaster images (WorldView-1 on 08/12/2014, 01/05/2015, 09/05/2015 and 16/06/2015; Worldview-2 on 17/07/2016; Worldview-3 on 17/10/2015).
UNOSAT’s preliminary analysis shows a total of 26,604 buildings/structures with visible damages and approximately 351 locations with visible roads obstacles and/or access constraints. In addition, 1,381 temporary people gathering sites have been identified within the analysed areas (Area 1, Area 2 and Area 4).