OCHA Situation Report No. 17
Haiti: Tropical Storm Hanna, Gustav, Ike
27 September 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

OVERVIEW OF THE SITUATION:

Forecasts from the national meteorological center indicate that the
pressure system has moved towards the north. However, despite the lifting
of the red alert which was raised during the previous days, the situation
still requires close monitoring. Populations living in areas at risk are
required to comply with the advisory security instructions in case of bad
weather. The Ministry of Interior, during the International Community
Support Group meeting held yesterday, pointed out that it is urgent to
know how to respond to a new emergency before the end of the cyclone
season and that it is vital to start sensitizing populations on community
safety measures during emergencies.

According to current estimations, 131,421 families totaling 657,105
persons have been affected by the storms which resulted in the
displacement of 111,391 others throughout the country.

The relocation of temporary sheltered persons is of concern in view of the
upcoming school year. A certain number of shelters are being emptied in
Gonaives with little or no information so far about where these persons
are relocating to. However, the "Comite Thematique de Gestion des Abris
Provisoires" is expecting, today or tomorrow, to receive from the
Department of Civil Protection, an action plan for the evacuation of the
people occupying the temporary shelters.

Road travel remains disrupted due to damaged dykes and collapsed bridges,
flooded roads and landslides. An updated overview of the road conditions
is reflected in the enclosed UNJLC map. In addition, UNDP is leading the
inter-agency work on the strengthening of the dyke structure with several
NGOs willing to contribute mainly by cash-for-work programmes to fill and
make use of sand bags.

WFP-Humanitarian Air Service has one operational helicopter and is
expecting the second to be ready for delivering relief assistance and
bringing passengers by the end of this week. A third helicopter will be
assembled and operational within two weeks. The impact on agricultural
infrastructure includes damaged irrigation systems at Miragoane, Anse a
Veau, Petites Rivieres, all located in Nippes, according to an assessment
conducted by Oxfam International. In addition, CECI (Centre Canadien
d'Etudes et de Cooperation Internationale) reported the loss of an
estimated 3,000 hectares of agricultural land in Marmelade and Pilate, all
located respectively in the Artibonite and North departments.

Damaged agricultural infrastructure should be repaired before December
which is the next agricultural season for beans and bananas. Local
populations anticipate a possible food shortage in October since crops
have been damaged or lost due to hurricanes.

According to WHO, the health status of affected populations still
immeasurable due to the lack of baseline data hindering a comparative
analysis. Currently, sporadic cases of fever due to malaria/dengue and
diarrhea have been reported in the Nord Ouest, Artibonite and Sud Est
departments.

Oxfam International's assessment highlighted identified cases of watery
diarrhea especially in children under five, malaria and skin conditions.
The report also states a high risk of water borne diseases, poor
environmental sanitation and inadequate sanitation in shelters. Access to
potable water and suitable water storage facilities is reportedly lacking.

The Flash Appeal has received only 3, 4 % of the required 107 million USD
as of today. Strong advocacy is required for a more effective response to
the needs of affected populations.

RESPONSE BY SECTOR

Food

As of 25 September 2008, WFP has distributed 2,468 metric tons to 484,799
persons including 5,455 more beneficiaries reached in previously
inaccessible communities in the department of Sud and in Roseaux.

WFP is also making efforts to assist the community of Cazale, in the
department of Ouest, which has been inaccessible by road since the storms
and hurricanes. A reconnaissance flight was conducted by WFP helicopter
and some 2MT of food have been delivered today. Some further 30 MT of food
commodities are planned to be delivered over the coming two or three days.
Distributions of a fifteen day ration are planned for some 5,640
beneficiaries.

Gonaives:

To date, WFP has distributed some 1,221MT of food assistance to 303,016
beneficiaries in Gonaives.

The second convoy organized by road from Port au Prince reached Gonaives
in the evening of 24 September. The convoy was composed of five commercial
trucks carrying WFP food commodities and three WFP trucks containing WFP
fuel, interagency fuel and generators.

WFP is dispatching more food commodities to Gonaives by boat and road ?
some 90MT of cereals are being sent by boat today as well as 430MT of
cereals by a road convoy, following the successful convoys sent to
Gonaives so far.

WFP is setting up infrastructure and warehouses in Gonaives in order to
respond to the needs of the humanitarian community. One wijkhall (mobile
warehouse of a capacity of some 350MT) has been mounted at the MINUSTAH
base and another one is currently being mounted at the port while more are
being shipped to Gonaives.

Following the first successful large scale WFP food distribution in the
community of Raboteau held on 24 September, WFP held a meeting with
community leaders of Deschaos. The possibility of a large scale
distribution, to be carried out next week, is under discussion with the
community leaders and partners.

Shelter and non-food items

UNFPA has committed 69,430 USD to assemble 3,500 dignity kits. The dignity
kits include, among other items, sanitary napkins, toilet paper,
toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, etc. They were assembled by youth volunteers
from CEDAJ (Centre d'Appui a la Jeunesse) and Jeunes Leaders Toastmasters
in Port-au-Prince on Saturday September 6 and Saturday September 20. 1,775
kits have already been distributed to women in shelters in Gonaives,
Mirebalais, Hinche and Cabaret by the "Ministere a la Condition Feminine
et aux Droits des Femmes (MCFDF)". Another 1,725 kits are about to be
distributed in South-East, South, Nippes and West. A request for 130,000$
was submitted to the Emergency Response Relief Fund for the assemblage and
distribution of another dignity 6,000 kits.

As of 23 September, the IOM in Gonaives has identified 156 shelters
hosting 51 871 persons. On September 25, IOM/OXFAM distributed 600 kitchen
kits and 600 hygiene kits. IOM plans to distribute by this evening an
extra 340 hygiene kits and 340 plastic sheets.

The Temporary Shelter Management thematic will be receiving an action plan
in reference to the evacuation of people occupying shelters, from DPC .
In-kind NFI contribution from the US Government will be shipped on Friday
and consigned to IOM for distribution: 4,350 collapsible jerry cans (10
liter), 5,088 hygiene kits, 3 water bladders (10,000 liter). The jerry
cans and the water bladders are scheduled to leave to Gonaives on
Saturday.

The Haitian Red Cross, supported by IFRC and Partner Red Cross societies,
has between the 3rd and 25th of September distributed 235 family kits
(kitchen set, hygiene parcel, 2 x mosquito net, 2 x blanket, 2 x jerry
can, bucket) in Nord-Ouest, 1000 family kits in Artibonite, 769 family
kits in Ouest, 420 family kits in Sud-Est and 500 family kits in Nippes.
Additionally the Red Cross has distributed 525 blankets in Ouest, 225
blankets in Sud and 400 blankets and 200 mosquito nets in Nippes.

The draft shelter cluster strategy will be circulated to all members for
their input review and edits. The shelter cluster will work together to
quickly edit and prepare an urban displacement assessment for rapid
implementation in Gonaives

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=4FA5D19E954D88A5492574D10023F227&file=Full_Report.pdf


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