OCHA Situation Report No. 12
Hurricane Michelle - Cuba
21 November 2001


1.  In the aftermath of Hurricane Michelle, an in-country inter-agency
mission (UNDP, UNICEF, WFP, FAO, UNESCO, WHO/PAHO) was carried out in the
three most affected provinces of Cienfuegos, Matanzas and Villa Clara.

2.  The United Nations Group in Havana pays high tribute to the immense
relief efforts undertaken by the national, provincial and local
authorities and underlines that the findings of the inter-agency mission
will assist them in establishing programmatic priorities in consultation
with the Government.

3.  On 16 November, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Havana
shared the Preliminary Report of the inter-agency mission with diplomatic
representatives in Havana (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,
Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom).

4.  Information available at present indicates that 45 percent of the
Cuban territory and 53 percent of the population (some 5.9 million people)
was affected by Hurricane Michelle.

5.  The Preliminary Report concludes that the hurricane's short-term
effect will be a sharp decline in the availability of foodstuffs,
particularly bananas, plantains, manioc and potatoes. For the medium- and
the long-term, the hurricane will have a negative impact, inter alia, on
the following four export sectors: sugar, citrus fruits, tobacco and
coffee, as well as on the social infrastructure (housing, health,
education, day - care centers).

6.  Immediate needs as prioritised by the Government, and as identified by
the inter-agency mission, fall into the categories of: food production and
food security, health and social infrastructure, educational sector,
electricity, communications and housing.

7.  The full Preliminary Report is available in English and Spanish on the
website : http://www.reliefweb.int.

8.  OCHA is prepared to serve as channel for cash contributions to be used
for immediate relief assistance, in coordination/consultation with
relevant organizations in the United Nations system. For banking details
please contact the Desk Officers indicated below. OCHA provides donors
with written confirmation and pertinent details concerning the utilization
of the funds contributed.

9.  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 Standardized contributions Recording
Format, available electronically at the OCHA Internet Website at
http://www.reliefweb.int.

10.  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:
  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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