OCHA Situation Report No. 14
Caribbean Hurricane Season
12 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. This situation report 
covers the effects of Hurricanes "Gustav", "Hanna" and "Ike" in the 
Caribbean.

HIGHLIGHTS

- Urgent support to the Haiti Flash Appeal is required to assist the 
Haitian population in emergency needs and early recovery. Access remains 
difficult, however distribution of assistance has increased.

- In Cuba, it is estimated that some 320,000 houses were damage as a 
result of "Gustav" and "Ike".

- In the Turks and Caicos, damage assessments are being completed.

SITUATION

1.Hurricane "Ike" is now a Category 2 hurricane and, after crossing over 
Cuba, is moving towards the north western Gulf of Mexico. The centre of 
"Ike" will be very near the upper coast of Texas and could become a major 
hurricane prior to reaching the cost line of the United States. An area of 
disturbed weather, including some of the remnants of tropical storm 
Josephine, is located a couple hundred miles northeast of the southeastern 
Bahamas. Some slow development of this system is possible over the next 
days as it moves west-northwestward and may impact Hispaniola.

2.The vulnerability throughout the Caribbean countries has increased 
dramatically with another 3 months left before the end of the hurricane 
season. The region has been affected since 15 August successively by 
tropical storm Fay, hurricanes "Gustav", "Hanna" and "Ike" that claimed in 
the Caribbean more than 350 lives so far, affecting more than 2.8 million 
persons and damaging more than 200,000 houses- while assessments are still 
on going.

HAITI

3.According to the DPC, some 337 people have died as a result of the 
tropical storms. Some 54 people are missing and 301 are injured. 
Approximately 170,780 families are affected and currently some 158,600 
people are in temporary shelters.

4.There has been a significant increase in the distribution of relief 
items in Gonaives, the beginning of a joint assessment in the south 
department and further strengthening of coordination mechanisms between 
the Government, the UN/IASC system and donors, both at central level and 
in the field (Gonaives and Les Cayes in particular). An initial needs 
assessment for the whole country was completed by the DPC and the UN 
system, outlining affected families by departments and communities and 
focusing on food and water needs in priority areas.

5.Food distributions were stepped up in Gonaives, especially during the 
night in order to reduce the risk of riots. A total of 38 MT was 
distributed to 20,000 people in 6 shelters in one day on 10 September. The 
total number of people assisted with food in Gonaives is now 60,000 people 
and 101,000 in the whole country.

6.A river north of Gonaives has burst its banks due to a damaged bridge 
causing widespread flooding in surrounding areas and creating secondary 
streams that continued to flood Gonaives. An UNDAC member and a civil 
engineer from the Argentinean battalion carried out an assessment to 
identify solution in order to re-profile the river. Roads to Gonaives are 
still blocked and the axis between Saint Marc and Gonaives is being 
repaired. Southern parts of Gonaives city are still inaccessible

7.In the South, a joint assessment with the DPC, UNDAC, PAHO/WHO and 
MINUSTAH is being conducted particularly between Coteaux and Tiburon. One 
of the initial findings is that relief distribution has been reaching only 
a limited number of communities.

8.Progress was made in strengthening the coordination of the response. 
Following the meeting on 10 September with the Prime Minister, the HC met 
with ? inter alia- the Ministers of Planning, Interior, External 
Relations, Education, Public Works, the President of the Haitian Red Cross 
and some donors. The meeting focused on the needs assessments conducted 
(including food and non-food items) for the next 15 to 90 days as well as 
on priorities to reach the most affected localities. The meeting was 
followed by a session of the Groupe d'Appui de la Communaute 
Internationale (GACI), headed by the Minister of Interior and co-chaired 
by the Humanitarian Coordinator. The DPC presented a summary of damages 
and estimated needs, prioritizing infrastructure, housing, agriculture and 
education. The government has already allocated 50 Million Haitian Gourdes 
for the emergency response.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docid=6ED0E2DCB2626679492574C3001CB141&file=Full_Report.pdf


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