OCHA Situation Report No. 11 Belize - Hurricane "Keith" 7 November 2000
Government of Belize seeks USD 8.5 million for urgent reconstruction of houses 1. The districts affected by the intense rain and high winds of Hurricane Keith are Orange Walk, Corazal and Belize. The Government is targeting its appeal for urgent reconstruction of houses on the islands of San Pedro and Caye Caulker, and the city of Belize, all in the Belize District. It is estimated that 900 homes have to be built to replace those destroyed or severely damaged in such a way as to minimize future reoccurrence of comparable levels of damage in similar natural disasters. Approximately, 4,500 people will benefit from this reconstruction plan. 2. The total cost of this reconstruction plan is approximately US$17.1 million (USD 19,000 per house). Efforts have already been undertaken by the Government to mobilize funds from e.g., the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Development Finance Corporation. It has been successful in meeting about half of the requirements so far. 3. Thus, the United Nations is seeking the assistance of the international community for the remainder: approximately USD 8.5 million. The request is for cash donations that will be used to procure building materials available in the country or in bordering towns in Mexico and Guatemala. The Government together with NGOs will be responsible for the distribution of the building materials and the United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT) in Belize will have the monitoring role. 4. Channels for cash contributions in response to this appeal: - UNDP- El Salvador: El Salvador: "UNDP Representative USD account in El Salvador" - Bank of America -ABA No. 111000012 - Routing Address: BK AMER Global - Street Address: 1401 Elm Street, Dallas TX, 75202-2958-Account number 375 156 0142 - With reference: Belize - Hurricane "Keith." - OCHA: Bank account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at the UBS AG, P.O. Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Belize - Hurricane "Keith." OCHA provides donors with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilisation of the funds contributed. 5. Any future updates on contributions to this disaster may be found by clicking on Financial Tracking at the top of the page for this disaster on the OCHA Internet Website (at http://www.reliefweb.int). Donors are requested to verify this table and inform OCHA Geneva of corrections/additions/values. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardised Contributions Recording Format, available electronically in the above mentioned Financial Tracking Website. 6. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website as above. Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34 Fax: +41-22-917 00 23 In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officers: Mr. E. Haegglund / Mr. C. Monteiro-Pereira / Ms. M. Kondo Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 13 83 / 19 97 Press contact: (in GVA) Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53 distributed by - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Volunteers in Technical Assistance Disaster Information Center lists: www.vita.org/listsub.htm sitreps nat-dsr web: www.vita.org fireline - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -