OCHA Situation Report No. 1
The Caribbean - Tropical Depression Fifteen
31 October 2001


1. The National Weather Center in Miami reports that at 1500 GMT, 31
October 2001, the center of tropical depression Fifteen was located near
latitude 14.9 north, longitude 83.6 west, or about 30 miles (45 km) west
of Cabo Gracias a Dios, Nicaragua. Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph
(55 km/hr) with higher gusts.


HONDURAS

2. On 29 October, the Government declared the following five departments
as emergency areas: Atlántida, Colón, Cortés, Santa Barbara and Yoro. The
floods come in the wake of a prolonged drought that destroyed corn and
bean crops in the south, center and west of the country, affecting some
800,000 Hondurans.

3. Yoro is the worse affected department: no access by road, no supply of
drinking water and electricity.

4. The Comisión Permanente de Contingencias (COPECO) reported on 30
October 2001: 1 person dead, 7 people missing, 416 people evacuated, 4,393
people affected, 28 houses damaged/ destroyed, 6 bridges damaged/
destroyed, 1 school damaged, 3 public buildings damaged.

5. COPECO sent emergency rations for about 1,000 families in towns
affected, especially those in La Lima, which saw some homes submerged
under more than a meter of water. COPECO received 25 tons of food items
from WFP to support 130 families for 10 days.  The US Government has
provided 100 rolls of plastic sheeting for temporary shelter targeting
400-600 families.

6. So far, the Government has not requested international assistance.


NICARAGUA

7. Most affected areas in the Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte (RAAN)
are: Sandy Bay Norte, Lidaukura, Raytl Pura, Ninayaris, Tasbaraya, Prahya
and Tawasaky.

8. 900 people have been affected, 6 people are missing and 1 person has
been reported dead.

9. It is feared that the transport from the interior of the country of
basic supplies to the city of Puerto Cabezas might be cut off.

10. So far, the Government has not requested international assistance.

11. 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.

12. 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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