Caribbean Hurricane Season OCHA Situation Report No. 9

This situation report is based on information received from, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in the affected countries, the Regional Office in Panama and the National Hurricane Centre. This situation report covers the effects of Hurricanes "Gustav", "Hanna" and "Ike" in the Caribbean.

HIGHLIGHTS

- "Hanna" has already claimed the lives of almost 500 people in Gonaives. Some 250,000 people are affected. The needs are for fuel, food and water.

- A Flash Appeal is being prepared. Global cluster support is requested for Logistics, Early Recovery, Shelter/Non-food Items and Water and Sanitation.

- Hurricane "Ike" has been upgraded to a Category 3 hurricane and is threatening the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Eastern Cuba. "Ike" will also affect Hispaniola and concern is mounting in Haiti.

SITUATION

1. Hurricane "Ike" is now a Category 3 hurricane and a Hurricane watch is in effect for the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Parts of Eastern Cuba, including Guantanama, Holguin, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, Granma and Camaguey. On this track, "Ike" could be near or over the Turks and Caicos Islands and the southeastern Bahamas early Sunday and then move near the Central Bahamas and the Eastern Cuba on Sunday or early Monday. It will also affect Hispaniola. Some fluctuations of strength are expected in the next day but "Ike" will remain a strong hurricane.

2. Upgraded earlier to a category I hurricane, the centre of tropical storm "Hanna" is just below hurricane strength and continues westwards. On the forecast track, the center of "Hanna" should cross the southeastern coast of the United States tonight or early Saturday then move along the mid-Atlantic coast later Saturday and Saturday night.

3. On 25 August, a tropical depression in the Caribbean strengthened into Tropical Storm "Gustav" and made landfall in Haiti as a Category I hurricane on 26 August. On 30 August, "Gustav" became a Category IV and made landfall on Cuba's Island of Youth and Pinar del Rio Province. It then continued through the Gulf of Mexico threatening the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi in the United States. "Gustav" has affected Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba and the United States. "Josephine" continues to weaken over the eastern Atlantic.

HAITI

4. With further improvement of weather conditions, the extent of the impact of recent storms has become clearer. While most of the country has been hit, the three most affected regions - from more to less intensity - are Gonaives, the department of South-east and the department of Nippes.

5. In Gonaives, humanitarian assistance - particularly food and water - has finally started reaching parts of affected population highlighting the need for all humanitarian partners to coordinate arrival and distribution of relief items. During the day, relief continued to be distributed also in the southern part of the country. In all affected regions, more assistance is still needed - in particular water, food and (for Gonaives only) fuel.

6. In terms of coordination, efforts are underway to strengthen clusters and provide better support to the Department of Civilian Protection (DPC) at central and local level. The official instalment of the new government on 5 Septemeber, following the session in the Senate, should contribute to strengthen state response.

7. On 6 September, estimates are that almost 500 people have died as a result of tropical storm "Hanna", with the highest toll in Gonaives/ Artibonite. This number might however be revised upwards in the coming days. The DPC also estimates that in total, currently some 69,391 people are located in temporary shelters across the country, and that some 3,249 houses have been destroyed. The Flash Appeal will be geared towards assisting some 800,000 people.

8. Security remains a concern given the extreme frustration of the affected population. Assistance delivered has only covered 10% of the needs due to access difficulties. All distribution and humanitarian assessments are conducted with military escorts. The Argentinean armed forces of MINUSTAH in Gonaives have been reinforced by a Bolivian contingent, to provide security for humanitarian operations.

9. The provision of assistance is further complicated by the movement of population from Gonaives to surrounding areas (mostly in the direction of St. Marc) due to existing fears for the announced arrival of hurricane "Ike". Some public buildings have been identified to be used as temporary shelters, however, no basic food and non-food emergency relief items are available. The DPC requested the international community to urgently pre-position food, water and hygiene kits in St. Marc to be able to deal with the influx of IDPs. People are also seeking shelter in the hills surrounding Gonaives. The evacuation of the population in view of the possible effects of "Ike" is extremely challenging as 30,000-50,000 could be evacuated.

10. Donors support is increasing with pledges for financial resources and logistic supports. See table I attached.

Shelter

11. A shelter sector meeting was held on 4 September. The distribution of emergency relief supplies received from USAID was also discussed. The Southern department, Nippes and Grand Anse are receiving shipments of hygiene kits. IOM is intending to act as a conduit for the in-kind assistance that is shipped into Port-au-Prince, and distribute to partners that are best positioned to reach affected communities. IOM staff members in Gonaives are evaluating the state of the infrastructure and immediate needs in temporary shelters. In addition to other relief items, power generation equipment will be requested.

12. Evaluations are also carried out in St. Marc, Petit and Grand Goave, and in Les Cayes region. A request was received from the DPC for the provision of plastic sheeting in Les Cayes. As described above, the situation in St. Marc might deteriorate quickly, due to an expected influx of IDPs from Gonaives. IOM is currently preparing hygiene kits in St. Marc. All material is purchased locally. There is an urgent need to replenish stocks; the volume of NFIs available will not meet the needs, given the size of the affected population. IOM notes that early requests received by NGOs for the southern departments already went beyond the 5,000 caseload IOM was able to cater for with the USAID/OFDA shipment mentioned above.

13. The shelter sector has also identified the need to provide affected communities with basic tool kits and possibly basic construction materials for the affected groups not housed in temporary shelters to be able to clear up the damage themselves and protect/reinforce/insulate their dwellings. This is not the traditional items stockpiled by donors and therefore financial contributions will be needed.

14. Reports received from Les Cayes, Petit/Grand Goave, IOM Gonaives show a number of major temporary shelter infrastructure damaged or not presenting adequate or minimal shelter conditions. The shelter sector is requesting funding in order to immediately improve shelter conditions. (Isolation from rain, sanitary facilities)

Food

15. Regular coordination meetings continue to take place. By 5 September, 170 MT of food assistance were distributed to some 21,000 people. Assistance was provided by WFP and its partners Care and Caritas to people in temporary shelters in Port au Prince, Port de Paix, Jeremie, Les Cayes, Miragoane, Grand-Goave, Bainet and Jacmel. World Vision also started distributions in Hinche and Island of La Gonave. CRS started providing dry food rations in Les Cayes. A boat with 50 MT water, 19 MT HEB, water purification tablets, 1 zodiac boat, 2 M6 trucks, 1 land Cruiser reached Gonaives on 5 September. WFP is exploring road access with M6 trucks to transport 170 MT of food for 50,000 people for one week. WFP is ready to send more food assistance to Gonaives by road once access is possible.

Health

16. Regular coordination meetings continue to take place. MSF Belgium reports that several communities in the Gonaives areas have not received food or drinking water for four days. Several hundred injured are treated by MSF Belgium; some have been evacuated by air to Port au Prince ( MSF France). The international Red Cross is delivering body bags to Gonaives. The hospital in St. Marc is being reinforced by a Cuban brigade and national personnel. OPS/OMS, UNFPA and PSF are delivering medical equipment to the St. Marc hospital.

Water and Sanitation

17. The Government of Haiti has made an official request to UNICEF for assistance in WASH. Support is required to assess the state of the water supply network, identify the interventions to be made, and estimate the costs and timeframe to repair the damage. The GoH also forwarded preliminary WASH assessments conducted in 15 localities throughout the country. UNICEF has dispatched 80,000 L of water to Gonaives. Some 60,000 L of water will be used for the most immediate needs, and 20,000 L will be strategically pre-positioned in case of additional urgent needs. The shipment is being transported by WFP along with 7.5 MT of food, as part of a partnership between the two agencies. UNICEF has

also provided, for airlift via MINUSTAH helicopter to Gonaives, some 300 10-L water containers; 167 shovels; 600 boxes of Aquatabs, each including 50 units; and 1 water testing kit.

Protection

18. The protection sector held a meeting on 4 September. Save the Children, Caritas, AVSI, World Concern and the Haitian Red Cross will conduct assessment missions and are planning to provide psychosocial support in shelters in all affected areas.