OCHA Situation Report No. 8
Hurricane Michelle - Cuba /Honduras
7 November 2001


Cuba

1.  The Government of Cuba has not launched an appeal for international
assistance but welcomes solidarity in the form of help to those suffering
from the impact of Hurricane Michelle.  A particular need is food and
medicines for children.

2.  The Government reports that some 270,000 persons are still evacuated.
Most affected provinces are:  Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Villa Clara, Sancti
Spiritus and Municipio Especial Isla de la Juventud. Approximate estimate
of people directly affected: 50,000.

3.  Damage caused in particular in the sectors of housing, agriculture and
communications.  Interruptions remain in the sectors of power supply.
Parts of road network blocked.

4.  Today an UN inter-agency assessment mission (led by the United Nations
Resident Coordinator and accompanied by representatives of the Cuban Civil
Defence)  has set off to assess needs in the most affected areas. Data
collected will guide the UN System in its support to the Cuban
Government's relief/rehabilitation efforts.  The mission is composed of
in-country representatives of FAO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF and WFP.


Honduras

5.  On 4 November, the Honduran Permanent Contingency Commission (COPECO)
reported the following impact by the passage of Hurricane Michelle:

   - 7 people dead
   - 14 people missing
   - 25,270 people evacuated
   - 52,397 people affected
   - 43 bridges damaged/destroyed
   - 13 roads damaged
   - 6 schools damaged
   - 1,283 homes damaged/destroyed
   - 21,973 hectares damaged


6.  The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Honduras reports that,
since there is limited access to some rural areas of the country,
particularly the Mosquitia region, the number of people affected might
increase and the extent of the damage might turn out to be even more
severe.

7.  PAHO/WHO reports that the flooded municipalities in the north of
Honduras are experiencing a decline in sanitary conditions, which could
lead to potential epidemics of diarrhoeal diseases and vector-borne
diseases. Some of these were already present prior to the flooding in
these areas which were already considered at high risk for communicable
diseases.

8.  For information on medical needs, interested donors may contact the
Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Relief Coordination Program ? Pan
American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO)  through the following contact
numbers:  Phone No.  +1-202-974-3399, Fax No. +1-202-775-4578, and Email:
disaster@paho.org

9.  In response to the request made by the United Nations Resident
Coordinator in Honduras, in consultation with the in-country United
Nations Disaster Management Team (UNDMT), OCHA is dispatching a United
Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team. The Team,
headed by the OCHA Regional Disaster Response Advisor for Latin America
and the Caribbean, is composed of a total of six members. The team will
complement in-country efforts toward achieving a more definitive
assessment of the situation, and they will further support the management
of information to the international community.

10.  For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA
Geneva, on relief missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding
values by item. Donors are encouraged to notify OCHA Geneva of their
contributions to this disaster using the OCHA Standardised Contributions
Recording Format, available electronically at the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int.

11.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be
used for immediate relief assistance, in co-ordination/consultation with
relevant organizations in the United Nations system.  Funds should be
transferred to OCHA account no. CO-590.160.0, Swift code: UBSWCHZ12A at
the UBS AG, P.O.  Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: "OCHA -Name
of Country- Hurricane Michelle-".  OCHA provides donors with written
confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization of the funds
contributed.

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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