Cuba: Hurricane Lili [DHA-09: 01-Nov-96]

Cuba: Hurricane Lili [DHA-09: 01-Nov-96]



                                    CUBA
                               HURRICANE LILI
                      DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 9
                               1 NOVEMBER 1996



       1.  THE  ASSESSMENT  MISSION  UNDERTAKEN  BY  THE  UN  DISASTER
     MANAGEMENT TEAM (DMT), FORMED BY FIELD REPRESENTATIVES OF UNICEF,
     UNDP,  WPF,  UNESCO  AND  PAHO/WHO,   WAS  ACCOMPLISHED  ON 25-26
     OCTOBER  AND  COVERED THE AREAS MOST AFFECTED BY LILI, MAINLY THE
     PROVINCES   OF  CIENFUEGOS,  VILLA  CLARA,  SANCTI  SPIRITUS  AND
     MATANZAS.  THE  MISSION  VISITED  AFFECTED  AREAS, BOTH URBAN AND
     RURAL,   MET   PROVINCIAL,   MUNICIPAL   AND  LOCAL  AUTHORITIES,
     INTERVIEWED  A  LARGE NUMBER OF PERSONS AFFECTED BY THE STORM AND
     TRAVELLED  BY  HELICOPTER  OVER  MOST  OF  THE PROVINCE OF SANCTI
     SPIRITUS.
                                                                    
                                                                    
       2.   THE  RESULTS  OF  THE  ASSESSMENT  MISSION CONFIRM (AS  
       MENTIONED IN PREVIOUS DHA SITUATION REPORTS):                
                                                                    
         -  THE  SERIOUS DAMAGE CAUSED TO THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR,  
       NAMELY  FOOD  PLANTATIONS (BANANAS, RICE, CITRUS FRUITS AND  
       VEGETABLES)  AND  THE  URGENT  NEED  OF  FOOD  SUPPLIES  TO  
       ALLEVIATE   ACUTE  SCARCITIES  AS  WELL  AS  THE  NEED  FOR  
       FERTILIZERS,  HERBICIDES AND  SEEDS WHICH COULD BE EMPLOYED  
       IN THE REHABILITATION OF PLANTATIONS                         
                                                                    
         -  THE  CONTAMINATION  OF  DRINKING WATER SOURCES AND THE  
       NEED FOR DONATIONS OF EQUIPMENT TO CHLORINATE WATER          
                                                                    
         -  THE  HUGE NUMBER OF HOMES DESTROYED AND/OR DAMAGED AND  
       THE URGENT NEED OF CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS                    
                                                                    
         -  THE NEED FOR DONATIONS OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES.             
                                                                    
       3.   THE  MISSION  EXPRESSED  PARTICULAR  CONCERN  OVER THE  
       ENVIRONMENTAL  DAMAGE  CAUSED  BY THE HURRICANE. DUE TO THE  
       REMOTENESS  OF  SOME  OF  THESE  AREAS  AND  THE  EXTENSIVE  
       FLOODING  THAT HAS RESTRICTED THE ACCESS, THE ASSESSMENT IS  
       STILL  UNDERWAY.   HOWEVER,  INTERNATIONAL HELP IS URGENTLY  
       REQUIRED   FOR   CIENFUEGOS  BOTANICAL  GARDENS  (VIRTUALLY  
       DESTROYED)  FORESTS WITHIN THE ESCAMBRAY MOUNTAIN RANGE AND  
       THE  ZAPATA WETLAND VIRGIN AREA IN SOUTH CENTRAL CUBA WHICH  
       HAVE  SUSTAINED  MAJOR DAMAGE WITH HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF  
       TREES  FELLED  IN  THE AMOUNTING TO ABOUT ONE MILLION CUBIC  
       METERS  OF  WOOD.THERE IS AN URGENT NEED FOR EQUIPMENT  AND  
       TRANSPORT TO SALVAGE THE FALLEN WOOD BEFORE IT SPOILS.       
                                                                    
       4.  CONTRIBUTIONS  (REPORTED  TO DHA SINCE SITUATION REPORT  
       NO. 8 OF 28 OCTOBER 1996)                                    
                                                                    
       GOVERNMENTS                                USD               
                                                                    
       ITALY  LIT 800,000,000 (PROVISION OF BASIC                   
              MEDICINES AND RELIEF SUPPLIES)           526,315      
                                                                    
                                                                    
       NGO'S                                                        
                                                                    
       ACTION D'URGENCE                                             
       INTERNATIONALE                                               
                                                                    
              DEPLOYMENT OF AN EXPERT TEAM                          
              ON HOUSE RECONSTRUCTION AND                           
              REHABILITATION	                     +++               
                                                                    
                                                                    
       OTHER ORGANIZATIONS                                          
                                                                    
       CANADIAN RED CROSS                                           
                                                                    
              AIRLIFT WITH  MEDICAL SUPPLIES (WATER                 
              PURIFICATION TABLETS AND ORAL                         
              REHYDRATION SALTS) CH 60,00	   50,000                 
                                                                    
                                                                    
       +++ NO VALUE INDICATED                                       
                                                                    
       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 LILI, 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                                                 
       TELEX: 414242 DHA CH                                         
       FAX: +41-22-917.00.23                                        
                                                                    
                                                                    

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