Caribbean Hurricane Season OCHA Situation Report No. 14

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

- Urgent support to the Haiti Flash Appeal is required to assist the Haitian population in emergency needs and early recovery. Access remains difficult, however distribution of assistance has increased.

- In Cuba, it is estimated that some 320,000 houses were damage as a result of "Gustav" and "Ike".

- In the Turks and Caicos, damage assessments are being completed.

SITUATION

1. Hurricane "Ike" is now a Category 2 hurricane and, after crossing over Cuba, is moving towards the north western Gulf of Mexico. The centre of "Ike" will be very near the upper coast of Texas and could become a major hurricane prior to reaching the cost line of the United States. An area of disturbed weather, including some of the remnants of tropical storm Josephine, is located a couple hundred miles northeast of the southeastern Bahamas. Some slow development of this system is possible over the next days as it moves west-northwestward and may impact Hispaniola.

2. The vulnerability throughout the Caribbean countries has increased dramatically with another 3 months left before the end of the hurricane season. The region has been affected since 15 August successively by tropical storm Fay, hurricanes "Gustav", "Hanna" and "Ike" that claimed in the Caribbean more than 350 lives so far, affecting more than 2.8 million persons and damaging more than 200,000 houses- while assessments are still on going.

HAITI

3. According to the DPC, some 337 people have died as a result of the tropical storms. Some 54 people are missing and 301 are injured. Approximately 170,780 families are affected and currently some 158,600 people are in temporary shelters.

4. There has been a significant increase in the distribution of relief items in Gonaives, the beginning of a joint assessment in the south department and further strengthening of coordination mechanisms between the Government, the UN/IASC system and donors, both at central level and in the field (Gonaives and Les Cayes in particular). An initial needs assessment for the whole country was completed by the DPC and the UN system, outlining affected families by departments and communities and focusing on food and water needs in priority areas.

5. Food distributions were stepped up in Gonaives, especially during the night in order to reduce the risk of riots. A total of 38 MT was distributed to 20,000 people in 6 shelters in one day on 10 September. The total number of people assisted with food in Gonaives is now 60,000 people and 101,000 in the whole country.

6. A river north of Gonaives has burst its banks due to a damaged bridge causing widespread flooding in surrounding areas and creating secondary streams that continued to flood Gonaives. An UNDAC member and a civil engineer from the Argentinean battalion carried out an assessment to identify solution in order to re-profile the river. Roads to Gonaives are still blocked and the axis between Saint Marc and Gonaives is being repaired. Southern parts of Gonaives city are still inaccessible

7. In the South, a joint assessment with the DPC, UNDAC, PAHO/WHO and MINUSTAH is being conducted particularly between Coteaux and Tiburon. One of the initial findings is that relief distribution has been reaching only a limited number of communities.

8. Progress was made in strengthening the coordination of the response. Following the meeting on 10 September with the Prime Minister, the HC met with - inter alia- the Ministers of Planning, Interior, External Relations, Education, Public Works, the President of the Haitian Red Cross and some donors. The meeting focused on the needs assessments conducted (including food and non-food items) for the next 15 to 90 days as well as on priorities to reach the most affected localities. The meeting was followed by a session of the Groupe d'Appui de la Communaute Internationale (GACI), headed by the Minister of Interior and co-chaired by the Humanitarian Coordinator. The DPC presented a summary of damages and estimated needs, prioritizing infrastructure, housing, agriculture and education. The government has already allocated 50 Million Haitian Gourdes for the emergency response.