OCHA Situation Report No. 13
Haiti: Tropical Storm Hanna, Gustav, Ike 
18 September 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

General Situation

The situation continues to improve with a steady increase in the 
distribution of food and non-food items, particularly in the city of 
Gonaives. Assessments are being completed in affected areas with limited 
access so far, including areas in the departments of Artibonite, Nippes 
and the Southeast. Coordination with the government and within the 
international assistance community continues to improve, with the 
strengthening of the clusters.

A key challenge is the provision of adequate assistance to people in 
temporary shelters and the planning of future steps for them. With the 
start of the school year early October, it will become urgent to free 
schools that are currently used as shelters. The dialogue with the 
government and the affected communities focuses on defining the 
appropriate policy, including options for temporary or semi-permanent 
shelters. An analysis of conditions in places of origin and the 
identification of possible options for resettlement are being discussed in 
meetings with government.

Another important challenge is the need to continue focusing on early 
recovery activities in parallel with life-saving relief operations. 
Efforts to ensure access to affected population, to strengthen the 
temporary dykes of the river passing through Gonaives, the removal of 
debris/mud and immediate measures to address irrigation systems are 
becoming critical. In particular, the humanitarian community is 
emphasizing its concern about the fact that the lack of repair operations 
on bridges and roads is hampering life-saving relief operations.

The extreme vulnerability at this stage of populations in affected regions 
three months before the end of the season constitutes the biggest concern 
of all. Heavy rains could produce disastrous consequences given the fact 
that coping mechanisms of populations are already stretched and that the 
environmental degradation is very high. The Ministry of Finance announced 
the suspension for a three month period (renewable) of some customs 
clearance formalities for food and non-food humanitarian assistance, as 
well as the establishment of special crisis management cells in all 
customs offices.

Friday, a presentation in Haiti will be made jointly by the government and 
the UN system of the Flash Appeal.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&dociduB3545ACCA6998A492574C8000D268A&file=Full_Report.pdf


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