OCHA Situation Report No. 4
Belize - Tropical Storm Iris - The Caribbean
9 October 2001


This message is not an official hurricane warning or alert for any
country.

1.  The National Weather Center in Miami reports that Hurricane Iris made
landfall near the town of Monkey River in Belize at approximately 0200
GMT, 9 October 2001. At 0900 GMT, the center of Hurricane Iris was located
near the border of Guatemala and Mexico near latitude 16.0 north,
longitude 90.8 west or about 100 miles (160 km) north of Guatemala City.
Maximum sustained winds are near 40 mph (65 km/hr) with higher gusts
(Hurricane Iris is now downgraded to Tropical Storm).

2.  Iris is moving toward the west near 21 mph or 33 km/hr.

3.  At 0900 GTM, the Governments of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras
discontinued all coastal warning for their countries.

4.  Rainfall totals of 5 to 8 inches are likely along the path of Iris.
These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mud slides over
mountainous terrain.


Belize

5.  Belize City is not affected and the airport is expected to remain
open. (Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies.)


National Response

6.  The United Nations Resident Coordinator's office in Belize reports
that the Prime Minister declared the state of national emergency on 8
October. He also ordered the evacuation of coastal population centers on
the Caribbean coast of the districts of Belize, Stann Creek and Toledo.
Tens of thousands of people moved from Belize City, Dangriga and coastal
villages to Belmopan and other higher central areas. Hurricane shelters
were opened nationwide at noon local time yesterday. Patients in coastal
hospital including the main hospital in Belize City were evacuated.

7.  Preliminary reports indicate extensive damage to houses along the
southern coast (for example in Placencia). There are also reports on
damage to networks of telecommunications and electricity supply.

8.  The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) activated all
committees, including the Foreign Assistance Committee. The Ministry of
Health distributed rapid needs assessment forms.

9.  The Belize Red Cross Societies mobilized volunteers to work in the
management of shelters and to assist in evacuation operations.


International Response

10.  The United Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT), consisting of
PAHO/WHO, UNICEF and UNDP, met yesterday and began preparations for
humanitarian response. OCHA has put a United Nations Disaster Assessment
Coordination (UNDAC) team on stand-by.

11.  PAHO/WHO moved to Belmopan from Belize City and is in close contact
with the Ministry of Health. Two PAHO/WHO Disaster Response Specialists
are arriving in Belize on 9 October with US/OFDA team.

12.  So far, the Government of Belize has not requested international
assistance.

13.  For further information, please refer to the Website of the National
Hurricane Service in Miami at www.nhc.noaa.gov, and
www.solar.ifa.hawaii.edu/Tropical/Gif/atl.latest.gif.

14.  This situation report, together with further information on ongoing
emergencies, is also available on the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int


Telephone: +41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers (OCHA Response Coordination Branch):
  Mr. E. Haegglund / Ms. M. Kondo
  Direct Tel. +41-22-917 32 99 / 1997

Press contact:
  (GVA)  Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 56
  (NYC)  Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32


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