Caribbean Hurricane Season: OCHA Situation Report No. 25

HIGHLIGHTS

- Tropical Storm Paloma is now a Category 1 hurricane and is heading towards the Cayman Islands and Cuba.

- In Haiti, humanitarian efforts continue in Baie d'Orange, in the South-East commune of Belle Anse, following the identification of a pocket of severe malnutrition on 28-29 October by Oxfam GB and Terre des Hommes. In Grande Anse, five people died because of flooding on 27 and 28 October.

REGIONAL OVERVIEW

1. Tropical Storm Paloma has now transformed into the seventh Hurricane of the season and is heading towards the Cayman Islands. Coming toward the end of the Atlantic hurricane season, which stretches from June 1 to November 30, Paloma will pass near the Cayman Islands late Friday 7 November or early Saturday and is expected to produce rainfall of 10 to 20 centimeters across the Caymans with maximum sustained winds near 130 kilometers per hour. Strengthening is likely and Paloma is expected to become a Category 2 hurricane later today and possibly reach a Category 3 intensity by Saturday 8 November. The hurricane is forecast to then track northeast and strike Cuba's south-central coast by Sunday and would be the fifth to crash into Cuba this hurricane season. Preparedness measures are being undertaken in the Cayman Islands. Cuba's Civil Defense said authorities were mobilized in all provinces to study the best ways to guarantee the protection of the public and economic resources. Hurricane watches were issued for the provinces of Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camaguey, Las Tunas and Granma. Jamaica and the central Bahamas should closely monitor the progress of Paloma.

2. The OCHA Regional Office in Panama is closely monitoring the situation and is in close contact with the RCs and UNETEs of the affected countries in the region. ROLAC informs that no assistance was required at the moment.

HAITI

SITUATION

3. Departmental authorities in the Grande Anse confirmed the death of five individuals following heavy rains that caused flooding in the commune of Dame Marie on 27 and 28 October. The situation is said to be precarious at Ravine Seche, where all houses were reportedly destroyed and 250 people are being sheltered by host families. Mouline, in the commune of Corail, is also said to be inaccessible and 53 people whose houses have been destroyed are being sheltered by host families.

4. Humanitarian efforts continue in Baie d'Orange, in the South-East commune of Belle Anse, following the identification of a pocket of severe malnutrition on 28-29 October by Oxfam GB and Terre des Hommes. The food security situation of the rural population of Baie d'Orange was aggravated in August by the loss of agricultural crops caused by Tropical Storms Fay and Gustav. In addition the population is now unable to access the dispensary at Belle Anse due to difficult road conditions.

5. Meanwhile, the identification of households with medical and acute nutritional problems, in the areas from Belle Anse to Marigot in the South-East, was agreed upon as the top priority during a meeting held between the UNICEF focal points for Nutrition and WASH, PAHO/WHO, WFP, FAO and OCHA.