Cuba: Hurricane Lili [DHA-07: 24-Oct-96]

Cuba: Hurricane Lili [DHA-07: 24-Oct-96]



                                    Cuba
                               Hurricane Lili
                      DHA Geneva Situation Report No. 7
                               24 October 1996


       1. After initial assessment in the health sector, the Ministry
     of Health of Cuba reports the following damage:

       a) Infrastructure: damage caused to 21 hospitals, dozens of  
       clinics, 6 geriatric facilities.8 pharmaceutical warehouses  
       destroyed. Two hospitals totally evacuated and 25% of the    
       beds in three main hospitals lost.                           

       b) Water supply: throughout most of the country, the water   
       supply has been contaminated, and there is a threat of the   
       water-borne infections for 70,000 affected people in         
       shelters.                                                    


       2. National response planned:                                

       a) Strengthening of the epidemiological surveillance         
       system, especially regarding digestive infections,           
       vector-transmitted diseases, and acute respiratory           
       infections.                                                  

       b) Replenishment of lost pharmaceuticals, provision of       
       medicaments for control of communicable diseases.            
                                                                    
       c) Guarantee of the safe provision of water through          
       chlorination.                                                
                                                                    
       d) Strengthened vector control through spraying.             
                                                                    
       e) Rehabilitation of hospitals and clinics, both from the    
       structural and non-structural point of view.                 
                                                                    
       f) Food for hospital patients.                               
                                                                    
                                                                    
       3. First priority requirements:                              
                                                                    
       World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization   
       has prepared, on the basis of requirements assessed, a list  
       of first priority needs:                                     
                                                                    
                                                            USD    
                                                                    
       a)   water purification                            70,000

       b)   vector control:                                         
            - pesticides                                            
            - spraying equipment                          85,000
                                                                    
       c)   hospital disinfection and cleaning            35,000           

       d)   essential drugs (ORS, antibiotics, antiparasitics)      

                                                         165,000 **

       e)   logistics - transport and supplies management           

                                                          50,000
                                                                    
       f)   rehabilitation of priority hospitals                    
                                                                    
                                                         175,000

            TOTAL                                        580,000


       **the total cost including replacement of lost stocks is     
       estimated at US$5,686,000 by the Ministry of Health.         
                                                                    
       Additional information and details can be requested from:    
                                                                    
       Pan American Health Organization, PAHO/WHO                   
       525 23rd Street, N.W.                                        
       Washington, D.C. 20037, U.S.A.                               
       Tel: (202) 974-3521/fax: (202) 775-4578                      
       e-mail: INTERNET: disaster@paho.org                          
                                                                    
       4. Contributions:                                            
                                                                    
       GOVERNMENTS                                      USD         
                                                                    
       Spain  relief flight: food, construction                     
              materials, medical supplies                           
              (25,000,000 pesetas,                                  
              including transport)                      195,300     

       5. DHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash            
       contributions to be used during the immediate relief phase.  
       Funds are spent in coordination with relevant organizations  
       of the UN system, and DHA provides donor governments with    
       written confirmation on utilization of funds contributed.            

       6. Funds should be transferred to DHA Account no. CO.        
       590.160.1 at Swiss Bank Corporation, case postale 2770,      
       CH-1211 Geneva 2 with reference: Cuba Hurricane, DHA         
       Geneva.                                                      

       7. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to        
       inform DHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief             
       missions/pledges/contributions and their corresponding       
       value by item.                                               
                                                                    
       Telephone no: +41-22-917.12.34                               
       In case of emergency only: +41-22-917.20.10                  
       Desk officers: Mr. E. Haegglund, direct tel:                 
       +41-22-917.32.99                                             
       or Mr. C. Pereira, direct tel: +41-22-917.13.83              
       Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-acevedo, direct tel:         
       +41-22-                                                      
       917.28.56                                                    
       Tele: 414242 DHA CH                                          
       Fax: +41-22-917.00.23                                        




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