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ACT Appeal Hurricane Dennis emergency assistance - LACU51 Revision 1

Attachments

Appeal Target: US$ 883,439
Geneva, 22 August 2005

Dear Colleagues,

Hurricane Dennis, a category IV hurricane, lashed Cuba between 7 - 9 July causing heavy rains and flooding . The Hurricane devastated 11 provinces and caused the evacuation of 1.5 million people. An ACT preliminary appeal was issued on 29 July 2005 to respond to the most immediate needs of the affected population upon request of the ACT member in Cuba, the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC). Simultaneously, an ACT CAT team was deployed to assist the CIC in the assessment of the needs and the formulation of the final appeal.

According to the information gathered by the CIC and the CAT team, the most affected area was Granma province where the damages caused by hurricane Dennis were as follows: 42,000 homes affected of which 15,000 were totally destroyed (67% in Pilón and Niquero), 12,000 homes are without roofs and 76 without water tanks (24 in Niquero). In the health sector, 17 pharmacies, 130 medical clinics and 5 hospitals were affected by the hurricane. In the commercial and productive area damages included: 283 tourist rental houses, 7,155 hectares of food sources (60,000 MT2), 670 hectares of coffee, 1,809 hectares of fruit tress and 10,900 honey production hives. Other damages registered: 24 Mini hydroelectric systems, 389 schools (29 totally destroyed), 251 basic services units. 700 families still remain in state shelters and 56,000 persons at relatives or friends homes. So far the government has approved the rebuilding of 4,000 homes and provided material to repair 7,000 roofs. Architects and engineers are currently carrying out feasibility studies, as in some of the areas affected the families will have to be relocated.

This revision modifies the proposal of the Cuban Council of Churches, (CIC) included in the original appeal. They are proposing to assist the affected population in the crisis phase providing food and non food relief items to the most vulnerable population affected by the hurricane. In the post crisis phase they intend to provide psychosocial support to the affected population and support the reconstruction of houses for the most vulnerable families (women, the elderly and handicapped).

Project Completion Date:

31 July 2006

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance Requested US$

Total Appeal Target(s): 883,439
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.: 4,136
Balance Requested from ACT Alliance: 879,303

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A
IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z
IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG8,
rue du Rhône
P.O. Box 2600
1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND
Swift address: UBSW CHZH12A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (direct tel. +4122/791.60.38, e-mail address jkg@act-intl.org) of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

For further information please contact:

ACT Director, White Rakuba (phone +41 22 791 6033 or mobile phone + 41 79 203 6055) or

ACT Program Officer, Elsa Moreno, (phone +41 22 791 6420 or mobile phone +41 79 608 8133)

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