UNDRO 88/2418
PANAMA - HURRICANE JOAN
UNDRO SITUATION REPORT NO. 1
1 NOVEMBER 1988
1. HURRICANE JOAN AND HEAVY RAINFALL OF 21-23 OCTOBER CAUSED FLOODS, LANDSLIDES AND EROSION. GOVERNMENT REPORTS 7 DEAD, 23 MISSING, AND 6,732 PEOPLE AFFECTED. DAMAGES TO HOUSES, PUBLIC SERVICES BUILDINGS AND SANITARY INSTALLATIONS REPORTED AS WELL AS DESTRUCTION OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK, PARTICULARLY IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN AREAS OF COUNTRY. ROAD ACCESS DISTRUPTED TO THOSE AREAS HINDERING FLOW OF GOODS FOR ONWARD EXPORT.
2. GOVERNMENT DECLARED STATE OF EMERGENCY AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE. CONSEQUENTLY UNDRO LAUNCHING APPEAL ON ITS BEHALF TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND RELEASING EMERGENCY GRANT OF US DLRS 15,000 THROUGH ITS RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE'S OFFICE.
3. PRIORITY TO ASSIST AFFECTED PEOPLE, RESTORE DRINKING WATER SYSTEM AND REESTABLISH ROAD PASSAGES.
4. PAHO INVESTIGATING NEED FOR ASSISTANCE IN VECTOR CONTROL AND WATER TREATMENT.
5. LEAGUE OF RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES LAUNCHED APPEAL ON BEHALF OF PANAMA RED CROSS FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FOR LOCAL PURCHASE OF RELIEF GOODS FOR APPROX. 4,500 PEOPLE AFFECTED. CARE/PANAMA DISTRIBUTED FOOD AND SOAP TO 700 PERSONS IN SONA, VERAGUAS STATE.
6. DONORS ARE KINDLY REQUESTED TO INFORM UNDRO DIRECTLY, PREFERABLY BY TELEX (UNDR CH), OF THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS AND VALUES.
ESSAAFI UNDRO GENEVA 28148
DPR 310 PAN