Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KINGSTON1298
2007-08-28 12:17:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Kingston
Cable title:  

USAID SITUATION REPORT 4 HURRICANE DEAN

Tags:  AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PHUM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1950
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1298/01 2401217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281217Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5249
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 1934
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0497
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0280
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0112
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J4 MIAMI FL
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
-------

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