USAID SITUATION REPORT 3 HURRICANE DEAN

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001292 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PASS TO CARICOM COLLECTIVE DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS TO USAID/W USAID/W FOR A/AID HFORE LAC/AA FOR PBONICELLI DCHA/AA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, SBISWAS STATE FOR WHA, CA, DS/IP/WHA, A, M/DGHR, PM, SMS, SES/O, TASKFORCE DEAN, CMS WHA/CAR FOR BMAJEWSKI, KHARNE, RBUDDEN DS/IP/SPC FOR JSPOO USSOUTHCOM FOR BVANICO SAN JOSE FOR TCALLAGHAN GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA USUN FOR TMALEY NSC FOR PMARCHAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PHUM EAID, PINR, AMGT, MX, CU, XL, XK, JM SUBJECT: USAID SITUATION REPORT 3 HURRICANE DEAN REFS: A) KINGSTON 1272 B) KINGSTON 1274 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. Results from the two-day rapid assessment found that 6 out of 13 parishes received damage from Hurricane Dean's high winds and storm surge, confirmed hurricane- related damage to at least 3,127 houses, and identified provision of water as an immediate need. On August 22, USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) airlifted relief items to Kingston, Jamaica, to assist approximately 12,000 people affected by Hurricane Dean. The U.S. Ambassador to Jamaica Brenda LaGrange Johnson met the plane in Kingston, and Ronald Jackson received the commodities on behalf of the Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM). The USAID assessment team remains on the ground in Jamaica to coordinate distribution of the relief commodities and assess the damage caused by Hurricane Dean. End Summary. -------------- Results of Rapid Assessments -------------- ¶2. On August 23, the UN Resident Coordinator's Office (RCO) in Jamaica briefed donors and humanitarian organizations on the preliminary results of the two-day rapid assessments to the southern coastal affected areas in Jamaica. The priority locations for assessment, where the teams visited, were identified during two OFDA-supported aerial flights the day after Hurricane Dean passed Jamaica. The rapid assessment concluded that Clarendon, Manchester, and Saint Catherine are the worst affected parishes. However, damage was found in 6 out of 13 parishes, and all affected parishes were on the south and south-western side of the island. ¶3. During the assessment, a total of 3,127 houses were categorized as either damaged or destroyed. Of the 3,127 houses surveyed 1,582 houses were either completely destroyed or uninhabitable. From these reports it is evident that nearly 13,000 people have been impacted by Hurricane Dean. USAID cautions that this number is only preliminary and many areas, particularly those in the highlands have not been able to be accurately assessed. ¶4. The rapid assessment team identified drinking water, roofing materials, provision of a regular water supply, assessment of sanitation needs, garbage and debris collection, repair of electrical system, and school repair as priority short term needs. -------------- Health Concerns -------------- ¶5. According to the UN, in November 2006 malaria was reintroduced in Jamaica after having been eradicated in ¶1954. The UN noted that no country worldwide has been successful in eradicating malaria twice. Since the outbreak, health agencies in Jamaica have been working to prevent the spread of the disease. With the standing waters and flooded communities due to Hurricane Dean, health organizations are concerned that malaria, and potentially dengue fever, will pose a health threat. ¶6. OFDA is providing USD 100,000 to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to provide health services to communities damaged by the hurricane and supplement the MOH's efforts. In August, USAID/Jamaica is providing an additional USD 53,000 to the GOJ's Ministry of Health to help Jamaica continue its efforts to eradicate malaria and combat other infectious diseases. -------------- Agriculture Sector Preliminary Report -------------- ¶7. At an August 23 meeting, a representative from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported that preliminary information from a recent meeting at the GOJ's Ministry of Agriculture indicated damage to crops, including banana, sugarcane, coffee, and poultry. The representative stated that early reports from the agriculture sector indicated that 40 percent of the sugarcane crop aged 4 to 6 months was damaged, 100 percent of the banana crop on the two major estates were damaged, 80 percent of the small holder banana crop in Westmoreland Parish was also damaged, 75 percent of the coffee trees under three years old were damaged, as well as 20 percent of broiler chickens were damaged. An estimated 20 percent of the top layer of the cocoa crop was damaged, but the trees can probably be salvaged with timely pruning. The representative stated that 75 percent of the agriculture in Saint Elizabeth Parish was reported. ¶8. Comprehensive reports from the fish sector are not yet available. However, aquaculture farms are reportedly flooded, but not believed to be severely damaged. Small fishing communities have sustained damage, including losing boats, nets, and traps. Irrigation infrastructure is not believed to be damaged. ¶9. These initial agriculture sector reports provide an indication that the livelihoods, particularly in the agriculture and fishing sectors, will need assistance to recover from Hurricane Dean's impact. The RCO stated that this information would be compiled and shared with all humanitarian organizations. In addition, agencies and the GOJ ministries will work to verify this information and provide additional detailed analysis. ¶10. USAID/Jamaica is exploring the possibility of reprogramming funds of the REACT project to assist small farmers in getting back into production. -------------- OFDA Airlift -------------- ¶11. On August 22, OFDA airlifted relief supplies, including 560 rolls of plastic sheeting, 6,250 blankets, 5,000 water containers, and 2,592 hygiene kits. The supplies are valued at nearly USD 298,000 and were sent from OFDA's Miami warehouse. The relief commodities will assist 3,000 families, or 12,000 people, who have lost houses, belongings, and livelihoods in Hurricane Dean. Plastic sheeting will also be used to provide temporary repairs to schools, shelters, and health facilities to prevent further damage from rain. The relief items will be consigned to ODPEM and distributed by NGOs to the most affected areas. OFDA relief supplies arrived only 72 hours after the hurricane struck the island. ¶12. Although the full extent of damage due to the hurricane is not yet known, ODPEM estimates that as many as 50,000 people may have been affected, losing houses, roofs, or belongings. The relief supplies that OFDA has provided will assist approximately a fifth of the estimated population in need. Other donors, including the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the UK's Department for International Development (DFID),UN agencies, as well as faith-based organizations are also providing assistance in Jamaica. USAID is in close coordination with ODPEM, other donors, and UN agencies on response activities and assessments. HEG