Action by Churches Together (ACT)
Appeal - Caribbean - Cuba
Assistance to Hurricane Isidore and Lili Affected - LACA 21
Appeal Target: US$ 267,800
Geneva, 7 November 2002


Hurricane Isidore hit Cuba on 22 September, remained stationary for a
while then downgraded to a tropical storm provoking very heavy rains and
high waves that reached up to 150 meters inland.  The main damage
inflicted by Isidore was flooding caused by the excessive rain The worst
hit provinces were Pinar del Rio and the Isle of Youth.  However, Havana
Province, Havana City and the southern part of Matanzas, Cienfuegos and
Santi Spiritus also suffered damage provoked by the rains and floods.

No casualties were reported as a massive evacuation of the population was
carried out and economic losses were prevented by the evacuation of
livestock.  However, the material losses were huge. Many houses were
destroyed, basic infrastructure damaged and extensive losses in
agriculture.

On 1 October a second hurricane hit Cuba. Hurricane Lili with winds of
more than 160 kilometers an hour swept across the country leaving a path
of destruction, and at least one person dead. The provinces affected were
the same as in the previous one enhancing the damage and losses left by
Isidore. This was the third Hurricane to hit Cuba in less than 11 months.

ACT member the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC) is proposing the following
assistance to the most vulnerable, affected population in the two most
affected provinces Pinar del Rio and Isle of Youth

Medicines
Non food items such as blankets, clothes, shoes, etc.
Housing


For the medicines and non food items the Cuban Council of Churches is
requesting in kind donations. Due to the embargo situation in Cuba we are
requesting that members abstain from sending their contributions directly
in U$ dollars. We advise them to send the cash contributions to the ACT
CO.



Project Completion Date:  15 November 2003

Summary of Appeal Targets, Pledges/Contributions Received and Balance
Requested
                                          US$
Total Appeal Target(s)                267,800
Less: Pledges/Contr. Recd.                  0
Balance Requested from ACT Network    267,800


Ms. Genevieve Jacques		Thor-Arne Prois		John Damerell
Director			Director, ACT		Acting Director
WCC/Cluster on Relations				LWF/World Service



REQUESTING ACT MEMBER

Cuban Council of Churches (CIC)



IMPLEMENTING ACT MEMBER & PARTNER INFORMATION

The Cuban Council of Churches is composed of 24 Churches, 12 Ecumenical
Movements and 2 Fraternal Associations, under 3 categories that form the
structure of the Council, as follows:

Affiliate Members: those who have complied with the requirements for
membership as stated in the by-laws and have a voice and can vote at all
times.

Observer Members:  newly accepted members, who are given this status for
one year or more according to their desire and with right of voice (but
not to vote).

Fraternal Associates: religious institutions and organizations which are
purely fraternal in nature and therefore cannot comply with the
requirements for membership as stated in the By- Laws, but at the same
time, they also exhibit a broad spirit of ecumenism in their
interrelationships and mutual support.

The motto of the CCC is "United to Serve", and for this reason, the
institution has been working alongside the churches and the people in
times of natural disasters, economic crises for the last 60 years.

Dedicated to this task, an Emergency Committee was formed comprising 5
persons.  This group is actively involved in all emergencies.

The Cuban government relies on the Office of Civil Defense and its
broad-based infrastructure support organizations, to take charge and
prevent or prepare the country for any impending calamity.  This
organization acts according to pre-established plans. The CIC as a church
institution, facilitates distribution of any aid received or offered by
foreign counterparts or churches, working towards the same aims.



DESCRIPTION OF EMERGENCY SITUATION

Background

On 12 September The Emergency Committee was alerted to the threat of
Hurricane Isidore.  The western part of Cuba was the most threatened and
the Civilian Defence Department declared that part of the country to be
under a Cyclone Alert.  During this phase families in the threatened areas
were evacuated to safe shelters and measures were taken to protect certain
economic interests.

During this period 10,118 people are evacuated to 135 shelters especially
prepared for emergencies. The morning of 21 September 22,184 people and
179,750 animals were evacuated and measures were also taken to protect the
main crop of Pinar del Rio province, tobacco, which had already been
harvested and was being processed.


Current Situation

According to the Cuban Civilian Defence Department, the most affected
provinces were Pinar del Rio and the municipality Isle of Youth.  Havana
Province, Havana City and the southern part of Matanzas, Cienfuegos and
Santi Spiritus also suffered damages provoked by the rains and floods.
There are still zones in which the damages have not yet been calculated.

Pinar del Rio is located 144 km from the capital and has a population of
733, 473 distributed over 14 municipalities.  Out of these, the most
affected were Consolacion del Sur, Pinar del Rio, San Juan y Martinez, San
Luis, Sandino, Guane, Mina and Mantua.

The most serious damages were reported in housing and vital services such
as: potable water supplies, domestic fuel, transportation, communications,
electricity, the functioning of schools (severe damage to facilities),
hospitals, clinics, drug stores, etc.  There was also comprehensive damage
to agriculture (citrus, vegetable, rice crops, etc.)

The CIC Emergency Committee visited Pinar del Rio Province on 27 September
- access to the affected areas had been impossible until then.  During the
visit the CIC Committee met with the Pinar del Rio Province government
representatives and the responsible officers of the Civilian Department.

The Committee was informed about the damages caused by hurricane Isidore.
While the hurricane remained stationary in the area for seven hours, wind
speeds were between 165 and 200 km/h.  The conditions in the 4
municipalities were declared as critical;  they are San Juan y Martinez,
Sandino, Mantua and Guane. The preliminary data are:

12,051 partially collapsed and 3 395 totally destroyed houses.
7 hospitals, 5 clinics, 60 clinic houses and 241 damaged schools.
760 electric posts, 79 power transformers and 695 phone posts blown down.


Three days after the visit of Hurricane Isidore, Lili struck causing
further damages to property infrastructure and devastating many
plantations.  Electrical and water services were further impacted.  In La
Coloma fishing harbour tidal waves devastated areas and in Consolacion de
Sur, more than 100 houses were affected.

Phone communications have not yet been restored in all the municipalities.

Isle of Youth Especial Municipality - on the Isle of Youth Special
Municipality one person lost his life, five were injured and there were
considerable material damages.  Hurricane Lili brought sustained winds of
134 km/h and gusts that reached a speed of 216 km/h causing extensive
damages.  Lili was the third hurricane to hit the area in eleven months.

Around 60 electric posts were blown down which will hinder rapid
re-establishment of this service to the communities far away from Nueva
Gerona, the capital.

In this municipality 37,686 houses were damaged and 3,600 razed to the
ground due to Hurricane Isidore alone.  According to the local
authorities, Isidore partially damaged 8,040 hectares of various crops.

Needs
Construction Materials.
Clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, mattresses, personal hygiene items
Water Purifiers
Food(mainly canned)
Medicines: Antibiotics, antiprotozarians, antivirals and disposable
  materials


San Juan y Martinez Municipality - the municipality of 151,126 inhabitants
suffered steady winds of 165 km/h and heavy rain causing widespread
damage.  However, the clinic was able to function and basic medical
assistance was provided to those in need.  Many people are still in the
shelters as their homes have been destroyed.

Housing: the majority of houses made of wood and palm tree leaves were
completely destroyed by the hurricane with families losing all their
possessions.  Around 80% of houses in the area are either partially or
totally destroyed.

State Centers: a total of 60 centres - schools, clinics, tobacco houses,
food warehouses, tobacco processing plants, etc - were damaged or
destroyed.

Communications:  The electric and telephonic service has been disrupted
and potable water is being delivered by truck.  Many roads are blocked by
fallen trees and electric line posts.

Economy:  Rice, corn, banana, sweet potato, citrus, vegetables, etc. were
destroyed by the strong winds. The main services were seriously disrupted
due to lack of electricity.


Needs
Construction Materials.
Clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, mattresses, personal hygiene items.
Water Purifiers
Food (mainly canned)
Medicines: Antibiotics, antiprotozarians, antivirals and disposable
  materials.


Sandino Municipality:  has a population of about 57,000.  Most of the
houses have lightly covered roofs which were consequently destroyed or
blown away.  The CIC Committee also visited the fishing community of
Cortes that had been cut off due to roads being rendered impassable by
fallen trees and destruction of electricity lines.  Currently the
population has no potable water (it is being delivered by truck) or
electricity.  However, the clinic offering primary health care is
functioning.

Economy:  rice, banana, corn, sweet potato, fruit, yucca, vegetable and
sugar cane plantations were devastated.

Social Institutions:  Drug stores, schools, clinics, tobacco houses are
either partially or totally destroyed.

Communications: Both telephone and electric connections have been broken.


Needs
Construction Materials.
Clothes, shoes, towels, sheets, mattresses, personal hygiene items.
Water Purifiers
Food (mainly canned)
Medicines: Antibiotics, antiprotozarians, antivirals and disposable
  materials.



GOAL & OBJECTIVES

Goal

To support the most vulnerable population affected by Hurricane Isidore
and Hurricane Lili in Pinar del Rio province and Isle of Youth. This
support will be distributed in co-ordination with the efforts that are
being developed by the Cuban government to respond to the damages caused
by the disaster.


Objectives

To provide non-food items to 4,000 of the most vulnerable people
To provide construction materials to 450 families whose houses have either
  been severely damaged or destroyed.
To provide medicines and vitamins to around 5,000 persons.



TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

11,250 of the most affected persons by Hurricane Isidore and Lili in the
Pinar del Rio Province and Isle of Youth in Cuba.

Housing: 450 affected families (2,250 persons)
Medicines: 5,000 persons
Relief items: 4,000 persons (1,000 handicapped and 3,000 women and
  children)


Location

The CIC has selected the following municipalities of the Pinar del Rio
Province: Mantua, Sandino, San Juan y Martinez and Guane; and the special
municipality Isle of Youth. These two provinces have suffered severely
from both hurricanes that hit within less than 10 days.


Criteria for the selection

For the housing:
Families that have partially or totally lost their houses
The most vulnerable families - those headed by single women, the elderly
  and those with handicapped members.
Families with a high number of children.

For the medicines:
Hospital and health services patients.


For relief Items:

Shelters, dining halls, homes for the elderly and maternity homes

The selection of the beneficiaries will be made by the affected families
in the communities, following the criteria indicated above. A committee
will be created in each community to support the community in this process
as well as during the development of the activities. The committee will
comprise a representative of the local church, the president of the
popular board (Consejo Popular), ANAP and the family doctor.

Using a participatory process in which the population themselves assist in
selecting the beneficiaries according to the criteria mentioned, planning
of activities and determining the best design and means of constructing
homes, contributes to empowering the population and developing community
capacities.

The targeted beneficiaries will participate fully in the implementation
and co-ordination with the specially created brigades.  The local churches
along with the beneficiaries will also take part in the evaluation and
monitoring.



PROPOSED EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE & IMPLEMENTATION

Housing

The proposal is to contribute to the actions that the local government is
carrying out for the reconstruction of the houses that have been totally
destroyed. As the lack of resources does not allow the Government to
provide finishing elements for the houses (they have to be bought in US
dollars), the proposal is to provide these elements only to those families
that comply with the selection criteria and do not have the economic
resources to obtain them.


These items consist of:
Carpentry: Doors and windows.
Sanitary: Sanitary sets for the bathroom
Electric: Electric cables, lamps, electric outlets, etc.


Each community has construction brigades that are supported by the
Government. In both municipalities church communities can be counted on
for monitoring and evaluation.

The finance resources will be managed by the CIC. The disbursement of
funds will be made directly to the provider selected and based in the
quotations and invoices presented.


Medicines

CIC is requesting humanitarian aid organizations to provide medicines as:
vitamins, anti-parasitizers, water purifiers, suspension antibiotics, etc.

The medicines will be distributed through seven health institutions in the
two municipalities.  Normally these institutions provide health care to
around 150 persons per day. The committee created in each Municipality
will decided on the distribution of the medicines.



Other relief items

Food, clothes, shoes, sheets and blankets for 4,000 people are requested.

The CIC will create, along with the community, a team that will visit all
the affected families.  Those living in temporary shelters will be
prioritised and given clothes, shoes, sheets, blankets, etc.  These will
be distributed to the people still living in shelters and those who have
remained in their partially destroyed homes but who have lost all their
possessions.

The community along with the church leaders will contribute with voluntary
work in classifying and distributing the received material support.

Furthermore distribution of basic items for the affected, collected
locally by the churches, will be carried out.



Transport

Some funds will be required for the internal distribution of material
support as well as for the transportation of the items needed for
finishing the houses.  Visits by the CIC Emergency Committee and the local
leaders will be included in this item.

The requested amount is $ 5,000 USD and it will cover the fuel costs,
renting of vehicles ( US$ 0.70 per litre) and rental of private means of
transportation is US $0.25 /km.

In administration expenses are included for communications (telephone,
fax), stationery photos, translations, visits to the field, secretarial
work and services (electricity, water, etc.).


Action plan

Results
Main Activities
Responsible


Reconstruction of houses destroyed by Hurricane Isidore and Lili
Selection of beneficiaries

Financing the cost of some finishing materials for the housing

Affected families,
Municipality committees,
Emergency team

Improvement of the situation of affected population in shelters.

Health care provided
Selection of beneficiaries

Medicines delivered to Health Institutions

Clothes, sheets, towels, shoes, and others delivered to affected
  population.

Affected families,
Municipality committees,
Health institutions,
Emergency team,
CIC vice president.

Church enlisted in recovery actions.
To support the cleaning and environmental recovery restoration activities.
To support the community organisations within the recovery phase.
Monitoring the project.
Administration of resources received from abroad.
Construction Brigades,
Municipality committees,
Emergency team,
CIC vice president.




ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE, MONITORING & REPORTING

Administration

The project will have a general co-ordination and one person responsible
for the implementation in each municipality.

An agreement between the CIC, the Ministry of housing (MINVEC) and the
community organisation (Poder Popular) will be signed for timely
implementation of the housing project.

The houses will be built by the families, the construction brigades and
the community organisation in each community.  The funds for the housing
program will be administered by the CIC.  The disbursement of the funds
will be made directly to the provider selected and based in the quotations
and invoices presented.

The material support deliveries will be carried out by laic, pastors and
by the local government representatives. The medicines will provided to
the municipal and provincial health system.


Finance

The financing resources will be received, monitored and controlled by the
CIC and at the end of the project an audit will be carried out by and
independent auditor - CONAS S.A.

The narrative and financial reports will be made according ACT formats
every three months and at the end of the project.


Monitoring

The emergency committee will monitor the project on a monthly basis.




IMPLEMENTATION TIMETABLE

One year ending 15 November 2002.



CO-ORDINATION

The co-ordination will be assumed by the Cuban Council of Churches CIC.
They will co-ordinate with the Municipalities of Pinar del Rio and Isle of
Youth, the Ministry of Housing MINVEC, the Health system of the two
municipalities, the popular power in the communities and the affected
families.



BUDGET

ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE

Description	Type of	No of	Unit Cost	Budget
	Unit	Units	US$	US$
CRISIS PHASE ASSISTANCE
Housing - Construction Material for Housing
Set of doors and windows	Set	450	348	156,600
Set of sanitary and electrical implements	Set 	450	66	29,700
Sub total				186,300

Medicines for 5,000 persons	Lumpsum			40,000
Other Relief Items
Blankets, clothes, shoes	Lump sum			30,000
TOTAL CRISIS PHASE				256,300

MATERIAL TRANSPORT, STORAGE, WAREHOUSING & HANDLING
Transportation and handling	Lump sum			5,000

PERSONNEL, ADMINISTRATION, OPERATIONS & OTHER SUPPORT
	Lump sum			5,000

Audit	Lump sum			1,500
TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE				267,800



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Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide alliance of churches and
their related agencies, meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency
response.  The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of
Churches (WCC) and the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.
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   Ecumenical Centre                          Phone: ++41-22-791.60.33
   150, route de Ferney                         Fax: ++41-22-791.65.06
   P.O. Box 2100                             E-Mail: act@wcc-coe.org
   1211 Geneva 2                              Telex: 415 730 OIK CH
   Switzerland                                 http://www.act-intl.org


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