MAJOR CHANGES SINCE PREVIOUS VERSION OF THE HIP
The HIP is modified to include DG ECHO's response to tropical storm ISAAC, which made landfall in Haiti during the night of 24 August, crossing the southern departments and dumping torrential rains and strong winds in a country still recovering from the 2010 devastating earthquake. Preliminary assessments results indicate that the West (including Port au Prince) and South-eastern Departments are the most affected by the storm. In the rural areas, the agricultural situation has been flagged as very worrying, with substantial crop and livestock losses reported, compounded by the fact that many of the affected areas had previously been hit by a drought. The food security in the coming months is likely to be compromised. Damage to shelters and water and sanitation infrastructures is reported across the country and at least 40,000 people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, according to preliminary figures. In the IDP camps, preliminary results indicate that 13,888 families have been impacted by the tropical storm through total or partial loss of shelter in 160 camps. 6,000 shelters need to be fully replaced. 15,000 people have been evacuated to temporary cyclone shelters (mainly schools) and currently rely on external assistance.
DG ECHO's own assessment and partners' assessments indicate that the priority needs are food assistance, shelter, non-food relief items, water, sanitation and hygiene, health (epidemics surveillance and cholera response), replenishment of emergency stocks, DRR mitigations activities.
To address the situation and the needs of an estimated 20,000 families, the total amount allocated to this HIP is increased by EUR 3,000,000 under the Humanitarian budget line.