OCHA Situation Report No. 5
Hurricane Dennis - Cuba
11 July 2005


This report is based on information provided by the Office of the United
Nations Resident Coordinator in Cuba.

SITUATION

1. Between 7-9 July, Hurricane Dennis, classified as a category IV
event, has devastated some 600 km of territory in Cuba, triggering a
serious sea surge, flooding, landslides and heavy rains. The maximum
sustained winds reached above 200 km/PH with extreme gusts.

2. According to the UN Resident Coordinator's office in Havana,
Hurricane Dennis has caused extensive damage in 11 provinces, affecting
some 8 million persons, out of the total population of 11.1 million,
rendering this one of the most devastating natural phenomena affecting
the country in the last decades.

3. The most affected areas are: Guama, II and III Frente in Santiago de
Cuba province, Pilon, Niquero, Media Luna, Campechuela and Manzanillo in
Granma province, Santacruz del Sur, and Vertientes in Camaguey province,
Trinidad, Tunas de Zaza y Medano in Sancti Spiritus province,
Manicaragua in Vila Clara province and all municipalities in Cienfuegos
province, Cienaga de Zapata and Jaguey Grande in Matanzas province.

4. According to official figures received from the National Civil
Defense, 10 persons have been killed, while 1,535,545 have been
evacuated, of which 129,626 were students and 16,873 tourists. Major
damages are reported in the housing, agriculture electricity, water
supply, telecommunication and transportation sectors.

5. A preliminary assessment of the National Civil Defense indicates that
46,318 houses were damaged. 14,617 houses suffered total destruction, of
which 6,327 collapsed and 8,290 with destroyed roofs. Consequently
73,000 persons are left homeless and 158,500 persons are without
adequate shelter as the roofs of their homes were completely destroyed.

DAMAGE SUFFERED BY KEY SECTORS

6. Housing

Cienfuegos Province

Total houses affected: 11, 163
Total collapse: 1, 092
Partial collapse: 2, 146


La Habana Province

Total house affected: 4, 165
Total collapse: 73
Partial collapse: 269


Ciudad de la Habana Province

Total houses affected: 334
Total collapse: 0
Partial collapse: 7


Matanzas Province

Total houses affected: 3, 284
Total collapse: 193
Partial collapse: 325


Sancti Spiritus Province

Total houses affected: 1, 777
Total collapse: 278
Partial collapse: 1, 499


Ciego de Avila Province

Total houses affected: 1, 069
Total collapse: 17
Partial collapse: 30


Camaguey Province

Total houses affected: 5, 436
Total collapse: 172
Partial collapse: 512


Santiago de Cuba Province

Total houses affected: 4, 090
Total collapse: 502
Partial collapse: 1, 000


7. Agriculture

In the provinces of Villa Clara and Cienfugos, the mango, papaya, orange
and banana as well as the irrigation systems, suffered considerable
damage. In Granma Province several thousands hectares of grains,
cabbages and corn were destroyed.

8. Water supply

In Granma Province 70% of the water supply is contaminated. The
provincial authorities have organized an emergency distribution of
water.

9. Transportation

The principal road connecting the Provinces of Santiago de Cuba and
Granma has been blocked due to a collapsed bridge.

10. Communications

The telephone lines in 28 locations in the provinces of Santiago de
Cuba, Granma, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus and Matanzas are interrupted.


NATIONAL RESPONSE

11. The national authorities mobilized 140,000 persons and 4,348
transportation means and public works machinery to face the hurricane's
consequences and to assist in evacuation of more than 1.5 million
persons.

12. The Government activated 978 food distribution centers and 1,804
emergency shelters, of which 805 in the schools. All houses are
currently evaluated in terms of safety for returnees. Priority attention
is also required for sanitation requirements. 42 out of 53 major food
shops were evacuated and 478,053 animals have been relocated to safe
areas.


UN SYSTEM RESPONSE

13. The UN Resident Coordinator's Office and the National Civil Defense
Office have established a coordination and information mechanism to
facilitate coordination of disaster response activities and information
flow.

14. The same office convened several coordination and information
meetings with all UN agencies, NGOs, cooperation agencies and foreign
embassies.

15. Following the request of the UN Resident Coordinator UN-OCHA has
released USD 50,000 for emergency response coordination and purchase of
relief items.

16. OCHA remains in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's
Offices in Cuba and will continue reporting as further information is
made available.

17. For tracking and 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.

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

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 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. Dusan Zupka, Ms.Charlotta Benedek
   E-mail: zupka@un.org, benedek@un.org,
     direct Tel. +41-22-917 16 45, 917 1205

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

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