Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINGSTON1292
2007-08-24 13:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

USAID SITUATION REPORT 3 HURRICANE DEAN

Tags:  AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PHUM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKG #1292/01 2361313
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241313Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5241
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 1929
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0494
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0277
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0109
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J9// PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J4 MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
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
-------

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