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Haiti - Storms Fact Sheet #6 (FY) 2008

Source: United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
Date: 16 Sep 2008

U.S. AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BUREAU FOR DEMOCRACY, CONFLICT, AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE (DCHA)
OFFICE OF U.S. FOREIGN DISASTER ASSISTANCE (OFDA)

Note: The last fact sheet was dated September 15, 2008.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

- In response to the need for emergency food assistance, USAID's Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) is providing an additional $7 million contribution, bringing the total USAID/FFP assistance to Haiti in response to recent storms to $14 million. The new contribution will enable USAID/FFP to meet 40 percent of the food requirements as set out in the U.N. flash appeal launched on September 12.

- On September 16, USAID Administrator Henrietta Fore, U.S. Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson, a U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) official, USAID/Haiti mission director, and USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) team leader met with President Rene Preval to discuss the humanitarian situation and response to date. President Preval stated that infrastructure, particularly the reconstruction of bridges, and transport are key priorities. The President also emphasized the need for general assistance to the country for the next six months.

- On September 16, USAID Administrator Fore participated in an overflight of Gonaïves and surrounding areas, Artibonite Department, with DOD officials and press representatives.

- In response to recent storms, the U.S. Government (USG) is providing more than $27 million in humanitarian assistance to affected populations in Haiti.


NUMBERS AT A GLANCE SOURCE
Total Affected Population 850,000 GOH(1) – September 15, 2008
Dead 423 OCHA(2) – September 15, 2008
Missing 50 GOH – September 11, 2008
IDPs(3) 151,072 GOH – September 10, 2008
IDPs in Shelters 111,391 OCHA – September 15, 2008
Other Damage 10,842 houses destroyed,
35,125 houses damaged GOH – September 11, 2008


FY 2008 HUMANITARIAN FUNDING TO DATE FOR HAITI HURRICANES IN 2008
USAID/OFDA Assistance(4): $7,500,000
USAID/FFP Assistance(5): $14,000,000
USAID/Haiti Assistance: $5,000,000
DOD Assistance: $821,000
DHS(6) Assistance: Amount Forthcoming
Total USG Humanitarian Assistance to Haiti for Hurricanes in 2008: $27,321,000

CURRENT SITUATION

As of September 15, the GOH Office of Civil Protection reported that more than 111,000 people are currently staying in temporary shelters across the country, including 76,561 in Artibonite Department. Participants in the shelter cluster are coordinating with the GOH Ministry of Education regarding shelter options, as many displaced persons are currently residing in public schools scheduled to resume in early October.

Water has begun to recede in central parts of Gonaïves town, allowing more people to return home, according to OCHA.

Access

- On September 15, the USAID/DART received reports that overland travel from Port au Prince to Gonaïves via Montrouis is now possible for a few hours each day. The U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti is providing escorts in order to assist in the event that vehicles become stuck along a temporary detour outside of Gonaïves.

- The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) is preparing to transition from air and sea operations to primarily overland transport for emergency food and relief commodities in the coming weeks. WFP estimates that heavy trucks will be able to use the road to Gonaïves within 10 to 15 days, barring significant rainfall. WFP notes that ground transport via Miragoane in Nippes Department remains blocked. In addition, limited ground transport to date is resulting in increased fuel shortages, according to OCHA.

Emergency Food Assistance

- As of September 15, WFP and partner organizations had distributed approximately 899 metric tons (MT) of emergency food assistance to 212,511 beneficiaries countrywide. On September 13 and 14, WFP distributed 42 MT of food commodities to approximately 5,000 people in Cabaret, West Department. WFP is also providing initial assistance to newly accessible residents in St. Marc, Artibonite Department.

- As of September 15, approximately 123,800 people in Gonaïves had received a total of 197 MT of food assistance. WFP is working with partner organizations to develop plans for more targeted food assistance to vulnerable groups, according to the U.N. Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team based in Gonaïves. Food is generally available in Gonaïves and markets are beginning to resume near normal activity. However, UNDAC reports prices for basic food items have more than doubled in recent weeks.

Food Security

- OCHA continues to report concerns over the impact of agricultural losses as well as increasing prices for basic food commodities on food security for populations across the country.

- According to OCHA, several organizations are preparing to provide more than 2,200 kg of seeds to small farmers for the upcoming planting season as part of both ongoing agriculture projects as well as additional assistance following the recent storms in Haiti.

Health

- On September 16, the USAID/DART received initial reports regarding the condition of health facilities in Cote de Fer in Southeast Department, following several weeks with no communication from the area. According to reports from a local relief organization, local health staff are in place and residents are working to clean up sediment and debris from flooding in the health center. Water sources are reportedly contaminated and needs include safe drinking water, medicine, medical supplies, and vector control to mitigate the risk of malaria.

- According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) staff in Haiti, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is providing mobile health services for approximately 27,000 people in Grand Salines, Artibonite Department. An MSF field hospital in Gonaïves is scheduled to be operational within 10 days. Following a recent health assessment, MSF reports that health clinics on Ile de la Tortue are functioning.

- On September 15, medical staff from the USS Kearsarge attended the health cluster meeting in Port au Prince and met with U.N. World Health Organization staff to discuss USS Kearsarge medical capabilities. CDC staff have not received requests for medical assistance from the USS Kearsarge.

Logistics and Relief Supplies

- On September 15, WFP confirmed that a Canadian vessel, the St. John, departed Port au Prince on September 13, carrying emergency food and relief commodities for isolated areas in the southern peninsula. The ship has provided initial assistance to residents in Tiburon and is currently offloading relief supplies in Les Anglais, South Department. The Canadian ship is scheduled to return to Port au Prince and load additional commodities for a second mission on September 18.

- Between September 17 and 24, four WFP helicopters are scheduled to arrive in country to supplement ongoing airlifts of emergency relief commodities and staff between Port au Prince and several logistics hubs throughout the country.

- On September 15, USS Kearsarge helicopters and smaller vessels transported emergency food and safe drinking water to Gonaïves on 11 missions, bringing the total number of USG transport missions to 83.

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

- According to the USAID/DART, UNDAC notes increased local capacity for water purification and treatment within Gonaïves, indicating reduced need for the shipment of safe drinking water.

- UNDAC is coordinating a meeting with local officials and relief organizations to identify immediate priority interventions.

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