CHURCH WORLD SERVICE: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM
CWS EMERGENCY: SITUATION REPORT
Caribbean Hurricanes
September 4, 2008


SITUATION: Tropical Storm Hanna is affecting Haiti on the heels of
Hurricane Gustav, which claimed 94 lives as it barreled across the
Caribbean during the last week. Two other tropical storms -- Ike and
Josephine -- have formed in the Atlantic.

Gustav affected Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman
Islands and Cuba before making landfall in the United States.

Among the damage reported, by country, according to the latest UN and
CWS partner reports:

HAITI: Gustav affected some 14,594 families, of which 6,801 remain in
shelters. At least 11,458 houses were damaged and 3,136 others have been
destroyed. The storm claimed the lives of 77 people, 8 others are
missing and 36 people were injured.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:  At least 5,000 persons have had to be evacuated in
northern DR due to flooding caused by rains. Flooding from the Yaque
River is of particular concern, said Lorenzo Mota King, director of
Servicio Social de Iglesias Dominicanas (SSID), a long-time CWS partner.

The cumulative effect of the storms could have serious consequences for
infrastructure and agriculture throughout the Caribbean, he said. "We
are praying to God that these new storms don't affect us."

CUBA: Gustav is regarded as the most severe hurricane that has struck
Cuba in the past 50 years. Some 250,000 people in total were evacuated
in Havana province, the Island of Youth, Southern Matanzas province and
Pinar del Rio province.

JAMAICA:  Some 12 deaths are confirmed due to Gustav, with a total of 72
communities affected, mainly by flooding.

RESPONSE: CWS is supporting efforts by partners in the region;
assessments are now underway. Don Tatlock, CWS Latin American/Caribbean
Liaison reports that in Haiti the flooding from Hanna is increasing
concerns over the growing food crisis there.

Concerns are also focused on Haiti because of the two other approaching
storm systems.

Tatlock reports that in some areas, flooding has prompted evacuations of
hospitals in the cities of Gonaives and Cayes. There is massive
destruction of agriculture, and many affected areas are not yet
accessible. The scene, according to CWS partners in Haiti, is similar to
September 2004, when tropical storm Jeanne killed more than 2,000
people.

CWS partners in Haiti -- all members of the Action by Churches Together
network -- are presently conducting assessments the situation and
coordinating relief efforts.

There has been no word yet from CWS partners working in Cuba.

For further information about disasters to which Church World Service is
responding please visit www.churchworldservice.org or call the CWS
Hotline, (800) 297-1516.

CWS Emergency Response Program special contacts: (212) 870-3151
Program Director: dderr@churchworldservice.org
Domestic Response: bvollmering@churchworldservice.org


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