GLIDE No. TC-2008-000143
Period covered by this Ops Update: 16 to 2 October, 2008;
Appeal target (current): CHF 2,010,991 (USD 1,828,173 or EUR 1,243,656)
Appeal coverage: 35%;
Appeal history:
- This Emergency Appeal was initially launched on a preliminary basis on 9 September, 2008 for CHF 1,802,093 (USD 1,638,300 or EUR 1,115,850) for six months to assist 25,000 beneficiaries.
- An allocation from the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) for CHF 25,000 (USD 23,809 or EUR
15,291) was made on 28 August 2008 to support the National Society of Jamaica to cover early preparation and relief activities costs. A second DREF allocation for CHF 100,000 (90,909 or EUR 61,920) was requested and approved on 2 September.
- A DREF allocation for CHF 25,000 (USD 23,809 or EUR 15,291) was granted on 1 September 2008 to support the Bahamas Red Cross Society. A second DREF allocation for CHF 170,000 (USD 154,545 or EUR 105,263) was requested and approved on 2 September.
- On 6 October budget was revised to CHF 2,010,991 (USD 1,828,173 or EUR 1,243,656) for 9 months to assist 20,000 beneficiaries.
Summary: On 28 August, 2008, hurricane Gustav lashed through Jamaica and Cayman Islands with strong winds and rain. Three days later, tropical storm Hanna swamped the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Island with heavy rain and gusts. The National Societies and the Overseas Branches of British Red Cross (BRCS) were beginning their damage and need assessments when hurricane Ike passed near causing heavy rains delaying the relief operation and causing extensive damage to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the south east Bahamas. The objectives in this appeal have been established based on identified needs: relief items, provision of psychosocial support, safe water and rehabilitation of livelihoods. This operations update no.2 portrays the progress on the objectives established in the preliminary emergency appeal. It includes additional activities as a result of further assessments during the initial relief phase, as well as a revised number of beneficiaries for the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The operation has been extended to nine months to allow for the thorough implementation of recovery, disaster preparedness and capacity building activities.
The situation
Tropical Storm Gustav impacted Jamaica on 28 and 29 August 2008 causing extensive rain and wind damage to infrastructure and personal effects. According to preliminary reports from the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), a total of 72 communities have been affected. The most affected communities were in the parishes of St Catherine, Kingston and St Andrew, Portland, St. Thomas and St. Mary. Landslides, flooding and torrential winds affected the communities in these parishes. To date a total of 12 fatalities have been confirmed as a result of Tropical Storm Gustav.
The Ministry of Agriculture reported damages to 70 percent of the banana crops in St Mary, 80 percent in St. Thomas and 90 percent in Portland. Preliminary estimates reveal that the overall agricultural sector sustained damages totalling $1.7 billion Jamaican dollars.
The Bahamas Red Cross Society (BRCS) was responding to the damages caused by Hanna when hurricane Ike interrupted relief activities on 7 September, 2008. The BRCS was able to send additional hurricane preparation and emergency relief items such as water, food parcels, cots, blankets and flashlights as requested to several islands including Mayaguana, Grand Bahama, New Providence, and Crooked Island. Ike caused most damage in the island of Inagua, while the southern islands such as Mayaguana, Acklins, Crooked and Ragged Islands sustained lesser damages. There were no reports of fatalities or injuries. Main communication systems were interrupted hampering assessments and distribution of relief items such as food, water and roofing tarpaulins. There was damage to infrastructure including telephone, transportation, electricity and water systems. Coordination of the response, particularly of relief transport, was done with NEMA. Based on the 2007 census figures for the islands impacted and detailed damage assessments, it was estimated that approximately 500 to 700 families were affected.
On 1 September hurricane Hanna hit the Turks and Caicos Islands moving from a tropical storm to a category 1 hurricane. The weather system stayed over and around the islands for three days causing flooding and some damage to housing. Shortly, on 6 September hurricane Ike hit the Turks and Caicos as a category four hurricane causing extensive damage to housing and other structures as well as some flooding. Grand Turks was directly hit with an estimated 80 percent of housing damaged of which 20 percent was severely damaged. With the official population figures for Turks and Caicos Islands being approximately 33,000 people, an estimated 6,950 people were affected on Grand Turk, South Caicos and Salt Cay, and several thousand on Providenciales. Initially following the storm, the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) stated Grand Turk port authority was not operating. EOC has since stated old customs building will be knocked down and a new warehouse facility will arrive on 29 September.
Less than half of Grand Turk had running water. There is no electricity service except for the Governor's house and the area around the EOC. Teams of technicians from approximately eight Caribbean countries are working on restoring the grid. Two public shelters in Grand Turk remain open serving three hot meals a day for those in need.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) completed a thorough distribution of relief items followed by more targeted relief distributions in the most affected areas identified by the rapid assessments completed on 9 and 10 September. The identified areas are: Grand Turk South Caicos, Salt Cays and Providenciales. Infrastructure is currently being reestablished in Grand Turk through the government, Bermuda Regiment and private companies.
Unsolicited donations from both within the island and externally continue to be given. These include second-hand clothing, water, soft drinks, food and generators.