Hurricane Lenny OCHA Situation Report No. 7

Ref: OCHA/GVA 99/0240
Hurricane Lenny - Caribbean Region
OCHA Situation Report No.7
30 November 1999

General Situation

1. Hurricane Lenny has mostly affected Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. Lucia, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the island of St. Marteen.

2. According to damage assessment missions carried out by national authorities and regional agencies, (PAHO, OFDA, CDERA, Red Cross National Societies), damage to infrastructures such as ports, sea defenses and road networks has been severe.

3. Preliminary reports by CDERA show that:

Antigua:

• 20,000 persons are without safe drinking water;
• Main pipelines of water system are broken as well as a major pumping station;
• Stagnant water has increased mosquitoes;
• Primary and secondary roads have been washed out and one major bridge (linking north to south of the island) collapsed;
• Several hotels have been flooded and there has been a severe beach erosion.

Barbuda:

• 65% of the island is under water;
• Roads have been severely damaged with interior almost inaccessible;
• Ground water supply has been contaminated;
• There is a mosquito and yellow belly black fly infestation;
• 95% of agricultural industry has been destroyed;
• There are waste disposal problems.

Fishing and environmental sectors are still being assessed.

St. Kitts:

• 216 families have been affected
• Urban areas, coastal communities, ports, sea defenses and road network have suffered severe damage from flooding and wave action
• The international airport has sustained no damage but several hotels have suffered water damage;
• Assessment in agricultural and fisheries sectors is still ongoing. According to the national authorities, the total cost of the damage has been put at XCD 111,844,000 (approx. USD 41,400,000). Assessment missions are still being carried out in Nevis.

Grenada:

According to the report of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Government of Grenada has declared the following villages as disaster areas: Grand Anse, parishes of St. John's and St. Mark's, Western Carriacou, Petit Martinique and part of the capital St. George's.

Anguilla:

Some 30 families have been seriously affected by flooding. Damage to the tourism sector is being assessed.

National Response

4. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), national authorities have begun to repair roads and are organizing the clean up of debris. Public utilities, particularly water and power supply and telephone lines, are being restored. Most of the public shelters have been closed. The homeless have been mainly located with families and friends. Some governments are considering permanently relocating residents away from affected areas.

International Response

5. The Eastern Caribbean Donors Group, which has already made funds available for the assessments in affected States, have met on 29 November to consider requests for assistance.

Needs/Requirements

6. In spite of attention now being focused on reconstruction/rehabilitation, there are still some emergency needs to be met particularly in Antigua and Barbuda. The Caribbean Disaster Response Agency (CDERA) has identified the following emergency requirements: double mattresses, household linen and bedding, "de-watering" pumps, bottled water, generators (5 KVA), garbage bags and household water filters. The value of these relief supplies is estimated at XCD 359,590 (approximately USD 133,200).

7. The needs for other affected islands are not yet fully identified but they are likely to increase as reports of assessment missions are finalized.

8. For more details on needs and respective break down by sector, interested donors are requested to contact the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency: The Garrison, St. Michael Barbados, Tel: (246) 436-9651, Fax: (246) 437-7649, E-mail: CDERA@Caribsurf.com.

9. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies is available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int

Telephone number: + 41-22-917-1234
In case of emergency only: + 41 22 917 2010

Desk Officers: Mr. Erik Haegglund, direct tel: + 41-22-917-3299

Contact person for the media: Ms. Elena Ponomareva, direct tel: +41-22-917-2336

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Fax: + 41 22 917 0023
E-mail: ochagva@un.org