USAID SITUATION REPORT 4 HURRICANE DEAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KINGSTON 001298 SIPDIS AIDAC SIPDIS 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 4 HURRICANE DEAN REFS: A) KINGSTON 1292 B) KINGSTON 1274 C) KINGSTON 1290 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. As of August 24, aid agencies continue to focus on emergency response activities, such as distribution of food, water, and relief supplies, to hurricane-affected communities. The Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) continues to facilitate damage assessments to the affected areas, conduct food drops to cut-off communities, coordinate distribution of relief items with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN agencies, and communicate with other GOJ agencies to monitor progress on resumption of electrical and water supply systems throughout the island. On August 24, the major donors to Jamaica held a coordination meeting where assistance levels and plans were shared. The donors, including USAID, believe that most of the immediate needs for relief supplies have been met through recent airlifts of supplies by several donor organizations. However, the donors noted that additional funding for reconstruction and livelihood activities is needed to ensure quick recovery. End Summary. ¶2. This cable summarizes responses to the devastation caused by Hurricane Dean, as of August 24. -------------- Current Situation -------------- ¶3. The current situation in Jamaica remains in the relief phase. As of August 24, 1,188 people remain in 52 shelters and four deaths have been confirmed, according to ODPEM. An estimated 3,127 houses have sustained damage, according to rapid assessments conducted the week of August 20. Aid agencies have reported that many families have already begun to repair damaged roofs and homes on their own. Water and electricity systems have not yet been brought back online. Currently, only 34 percent of the regular customers are receiving electricity, impacting the availability of water as many water pumps depend on electricity and do not have a generator back-up. Damage assessments led by ODPEM are ongoing, and distribution of food, water, and relief supplies has begun to the most affected areas. -------------- ODPEM Response -------------- ¶4. Several communities remain cut-off to humanitarian organizations, necessitating food drops in at least five communities, as of August 24. ODPEM has organized food drops to Somerset, Mansfield, Tower Hill, Lime Tree, and Spring Bank. Many of these areas are located in Portland Parish, which was one of the first areas to be hit by Hurricane Dean. ¶5. ODPEM dispatched three water tanks to Portland Cottage, and distributed relief items in Old Harbour Bay in Saint Catherine Parish and Clarendon Parish. ODPEM KINGSTON 00001298 002 OF 004 is coordinating transportation, warehousing, and distribution of emergency relief commodities. ¶6. ODPEM continues to focus on compilation of damage assessment information, the latest of which was detailed in REF A. -------------- NGO and UN Response Activities -------------- ¶7. On August 24, the Jamaican Red Cross (JRC) reported that relief teams had distributed emergency supplies in Manchester, Clarendon, Saint Andrew, Saint Catherine, Saint Thomas, and Portland parishes, covering most of the worst affected areas. The JRC has distributed relief supplies, including food, blankets, hygiene kits, tarpaulins, water, clothing, kitchen sets, and mattresses, that were prepositioned at branch offices in each of the parishes. The food package included flour, rice, tin cans of meat and vegetables, milk, sugar, and cornmeal, and lasts a family of five for nearly one week. The JRC teams have distributed food, water, and clothing in Old Harbour Bay, one of the communities that suffered the most damage from Hurricane Dean. The JRC is also providing psychosocial assistance to traumatized people. On August 24, the JRC expects to receive additional relief supplies from the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and plans to inventory the supplies available and identify additional needs. ¶8. The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is providing four emergency health kits that cover the basic needs of 1,000 people for three months and 2,000 ten-liter water containers to the Ministry of Health (MOH). UNICEF is also providing 2,000 food packages that last for two weeks and 5,000 bottles of water to the Rural Family Support Organization and JRC. UNICEF is also implementing education, child protection, and early education programs in affected areas. ¶9. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is assisting the MOH with vector control chemicals and equipment. PAHO has two water and sanitation officers on the ground monitoring the situation and providing technical assistance to the MOH and other relief agencies. In addition, PAHO is conducting epidemiology and communicable disease surveillance at shelters. PAHO also plans to conduct an engineering assessment of damage to hospitals, particularly Bellevue Hospital. USAID is supporting these activities, in collaboration with other donors. ¶10. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is planning to provide 35 reproductive health kits that serve 1,200 people for clean and clinical delivery. UNFPA is also providing JRC and the local community development association with hygiene kits in Old Harbour Bay. ¶11. The UN World Food Program (WFP) is proposing to provide a one-week supply of high energy biscuits for food drops to 2,200 people in cut-off communities, as well as 2,000 people living in shelters. -------------- Donor Coordination and Response KINGSTON 00001298 003 OF 004 -------------- ¶12. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has pledged 2 million Canadian dollars, or nearly USD 1.9 million, to support the humanitarian response in Jamaica. With this, CIDA is supporting repairs to health facilities, school repairs, water and sanitation activities, and transportation and other logistical needs. On August 23, an airlift of relief supplies arrived with 4,992 four-liter buckets, 10,560 20-liter water containers, and 3,250 tarpaulins measuring 4x6 meters. ¶13. The Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO) has pledged 3 million Euros, or more than USD 4 million, to respond to the regional impact of Hurricane Dean. ECHO intends to support NGO livelihoods, repair, and water, sanitation, and hygiene activities in St. Lucia, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, and Belize. In Jamaica, ECHO plans to focus on repairing homes, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions. ¶14. The UK Department for International Development (DFID) may support 10 percent of the IFRC appeal in Jamaica. DFID is also considering supporting needs identified by ODPEM. ¶15. The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation (AECI) airlifted shelter-oriented relief supplies to Jamaica on August 24. The airlift included 15 to 20 tents, 1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 collapsible water containers, and 1,000 floor mats. In addition, the Spanish aid agency is facilitating a private sector package of relief supplies to JRC. The association plans to fund reconstruction activities as well. ¶16. In an August 24 donor coordination meeting attended by an OFDA Regional Advisor, funding plans and other response activities were discussed. The donor group concluded that much of the humanitarian needs will be covered by the activities already underway. However, the donors noted that reconstruction and livelihood programs will need additional funding from the international donors. Examples of development programs that will need to be supported include agricultural inputs and technical assistance to farmers to jump-start production. In many schools pit latrines were flooding and other sanitation facilities were damaged during the storm and need to be repaired quickly to ensure proper sanitation services are provided to students. In addition, health facilities sustained damage and are in need of critical repairs. Per REF A, malaria continues to be a major concern and needs medium- to long-term programming. -------------- USAID Response -------------- ¶17. In addition to the USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) support for health response activities and procurement and distribution of relief supplies as detailed in REF A, USAID/Jamaica is exploring a potential expansion of development programming in the severely affected agriculture, education, and health sectors. USAID/Jamaica believes KINGSTON 00001298 004 OF 004 that critical interventions to recover from the impact of Hurricane Dean include repairs to schools and health facilities that are not covered by GOJ or international donors. ¶18. The OFDA team in Jamaica will stand down on August ¶25. An OFDA Regional Advisor based in Costa Rica will continue to coordinate closely with donors, implementing partners, ODPEM, and USAID/Jamaica on response activities. An OFDA consultant based in Jamaica will also continue to participate in damage assessments, coordinate distribution of relief supplies, and monitor implementation of OFDA-funded activities. This is the last daily situation report cable from USAID on the impact of Hurricane Dean in Jamaica. HEG