OCHA Situation Report No. 7
Caribbean: Hurricane Season
5 September 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

This situation report is based on information received from, the UN
Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in the affected countries, the Regional
Office in Panama and the National Hurricane Centre.

HIGHLIGHTS

- The Government of Haiti has officially requested international
assistance and a Flash Appeal is being prepared. "Hanna" has already
claimed 90 lives in Haiti.

- Following the passage of Hurricane "Gustav", power supply and roofing
repair are the most pressing needs in Cuba.

- Hurricane "Ike " has been upgraded to a Category IV hurricane and may
threaten Puerto Rico, Hispaniola, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica.


SITUATION

1. On 25 August, a tropical depression in the Caribbean strengthened
into Tropical Storm "Gustav" and made landfall in Haiti as a Category I
hurricane on 26 August. On 30 August, "Gustav" became a Category IV and
made landfall on Cuba's Island of Youth and Pinar del Rio Province. It
then continued through the Gulf of Mexico threatening

the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi in the United
States. "Gustav" has affected Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica,
the Cayman Islands, Cuba and the United States.

2. Upgraded earlier to a Category I hurricane, the centre of tropical
storm "Hanna" continues wetwards and should be moving through or just
east of the Central and Northwestern Bahamas and will be near the south
east coast of the United Staes by Friday. "Hanna" could regain hurricane
strength on Friday prior to reaching the coastline and is expected to
produce rainfall totals of four to eight inches with maximum isolated
amounts of 12 inches over the southeastern Bahamas, the Turks and Caicos
Islands, Eastern Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Coastal storm surge flooding of
one to three feet above normal tide levels can be expected in areas of
onshore flow within the hurricane warning area.

3. Meanwhile, Hurricane "Ike" was upgraded to a Category IV hurricane
and was located about 885 km east-northeast of the Leeward Islands. This
general motion is expected to continue through Thursday followed by a
turn to the west and west-southwest on Friday taking "Ike" over the open
waters of the west-central Atlantic during the next few days. It is too
early to determine what land area might be directly affected by "Ike".

4. Tropical Storm "Josephine" is weakening over the eastern Atlantic and
is about 840 km west of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands.


HAITI

5. A few days after being struck by Hurricane "Gustav", Haiti was
unexpectedly hit by tropical storm "Hanna" on 1 September. No previous
warning had been issued as "Hanna" was expected to pass north of Haiti.
On 3 September, weather conditions improved slightly in some parts of
the country, rendering gradual access to the affected population. The
airport in Port-au-Prince reopened on 3 September allowing search and
rescue operations to be undertaken. Initial assessments have commenced
while only limited humanitarian assistance has reached affected
populations.

6. While there is no clarity on the number of casualties, informal
government figures indicate at least 90 dead as a result of "Hanna" and
some 250,000 affected persons in Gonaives only. It is increasingly
evident that the situation in the country is dire. According to the
Direction de Protection Civil (DPC), nine out of the 10 Districts in
Haiti are seriously affected due to the combined impact of tropical
storms "Gustav" and Hanna." Haitian authorities are maintaining a
heightened state of alert in seven Districts, mostly located in the
north. Heavy flooding was reported in the following cities: Gonaives
(Artibonite District), Port de Paix (Northwest District), Cap Haitien
(North District), Hinche (Central District), Miragoane (Nippes
District), Jacmel (Southeast District), Les Cayes (South District),
Grand Go=E2ve (West District).

7. The situation today is further complicated by the large areas
affected and it is likely that the short and mid-term impact on food
security in Haiti will be considerable.

8. With limited access to Gonaives/Artibonite, no reliable information
on damage and humanitarian needs are yet available with the Haitian Red
Cross carrying out an initial airborne assessment on 3 September. Almost
everyone living in the city has lost their personal belongings for the
second time in four years and Gonaives is now suffering its second
severe social and economic blow. Although mortality and injury figures
are not yet available, loss of life seems to be lower than feared with
the Communal Committee quick to evacuate the population to
pre-identified shelters. The roads between Saint Marc and Gonaives and
cap-Haitian and Gonaives are blocked by fallen trees, preventing road
access for humanitarian relief.

9. In Nippes District, some 52 people are currently in sheltered in
Miragoane and have received food from WFP distributed by the DPC
(three-day ration). The Miragoane-Port au Prince Bridge remains passable
with caution. In the South District, some 2,000 people are in shelters.
In Les Cayes, some 1,250 people received food rations funded by the DDPC
which were distributed by CRS and Caritas. OPS/OMS will visit the
shelters on the 3 September in order to assess medical needs. In the
South East District, heavy rains were reported on 2 September,
particularly affecting the town of Cayes Jacmel which had already been
flooded in the aftermath of "Gustav". In Grand Anse District, heavy
rains were reported since 1 September. According to IOM the number of
people in shelters is increasing, with 1,170 people currently located in
seven temporary shelters. The majority of temporary shelters are
schools. Some 400 people are in two shelters in Jeremie.

10. All northern districts are slightly affected by hurricane "Hanna".
HDCS and Civil Affairs visited the town of Fort-Liberte particularly
zones most at risk (Concilia, Cicar and la Victoire) and noted that the
situation in these areas was stable. Heavy winds were reported in the
village of Roche Plate and Bassin Tounen where the roofs of 120 houses
were damaged. The UNPOL team was unable to access the region to evaluate
damage. Flooding of the river Disman is the main cause of damages in the
region.

11. In the Central District, Hinche (the most affected commune of the
District), Cite Nolas, Bas-Cimetiere, La Marone, Rivage (Kokoye) and
Cite du Peuple are the most affected zones. The number of flooded houses
has not yet been determined. The MINUSTAH Communication Centre (ComCen)
in Hinche advised that water levels in Hinche were rising. Flooding has
been reported in the communes of Thomassique Cerca La Source, Cerca
Carvajal and Maissade where gardens and livestock have been lost.
Reliable figures on affected persons and damage remain unknown.

12. The international humanitarian community continue to organize
response efforts, with UN agencies strengthening their staff capacity.
Sectoral meetings continue to take place on a daily basis and a major
UN-NGOs coordination meeting has planned assessments and emergency
response actions. Additional UN staff arrived in Gonaives on 3
September, notably from MUINUSTAH. The military are also assisting in
the evacuation of affected persons.

13. Following a request from the UNRC/HC on 3 September, an UNDAC team
was deployed. The eight-member team includes coordination and
assessments specialists, the French NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres and
members of the British NGO Map Action. In addition to the UNDAC team,
other international support teams have been deployed. Since 28 August, a
three-person USAID/OFDA assessment team, deployed for Hurricane "Gustav"
will remain in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. USAID has allocated USD
100,000 to Haiti. Switzerland pledged CHF 1.15 million help Haiti
hurricane victims. The SDC Cooperation Office in Port-au Prince is
working closely with the local authorities and partner organisations to
assess what the region's most urgent needs are and to decide on what
humanitarian aid Switzerland could provide. The IFRC has also deployed a
Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT). UN Agencies in situ are
receiving additional support from their regional office. All partners
are invited to coordinate and share their assessments results at the
next humanitarian coordination meeting at WHO on Friday, 5 September at
1600.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=06CE7F15AEA4DF94492574BB0008178A&file=Full_Report.pdf

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