Tropical Storm Noel Situation Report No.4 Page 1 Situation Report 4– Tropical Storm Noel – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 5 NOVEMBER 2007

This situation report is based on information received from the National Emergency Commission and member institutions from the Emergency Operations Centre and United Nations agencies in country.

HIGHLIGHTS x Latest figures indicate 85 people killed, approximately 67,000 people evacuated and 48 unaccounted for. x Approximately, USD 10.7 million in cash contributions provided so far, of which USD 7.6 million by the Government of the Dominican Republic.

SITUATION Shelters ready 126 Cut-off communities 137 Affected bridges and 46 1. Climate conditions: Latest reports from the roads National Meteorology Office - Oficina Nacional de Meteorología (ONAMET), indicated that a low *According to the Red Cross consolidated shelter pressure system associated with Noel remains report (seen on page 3), the number of people in stationed over the eastern part of Cuba. Light temporary shelters has reached 35,319. precipitation continues in the Dominican Republic, with likely isolated showers in the southeastern, Health, water and sanitation southwestern, northwestern and southern Cordillera 4. Continuing to evaluate needs in different regions for the next two days. provinces for medicine provision, but the areas of Bahoruco, Tamayo, Neyba and Bajo Yuna remain cut 2. Affected area: The Commitee for Special off. Operations - Comité de Operaciones Especiales (COE) maintains a red alert for the , 5. The National Institute for Potable Water and and another 28 provinces. Sewage - Instituto Nacional de Aguas Potables y Alcantarillados (INAPA) reports that Tropical Storm 3. Impact: “Noel” affected 155 of 368 water systems in the country, and another 52 are down due to a lack of National Emergency Commission - Comisión Nacional electricity. de Emergencia (CNE) Bulletin 16 (11:00 AM on 4 November 2007) 6. Nearly 65% of water systems have problems, of Persons killed 85 which 38 have thus far been repaired. INAPA has Persons missing 48 established 34% of water supply services, 110 water Persons rescued 4,406 systems are still damaged, 73 are out of service, and In shelters...... 23,375* 11 are partially functioning. INAPA held a national In homes of family members Persons displaced and friends ...43,233 program to distribute water with the use of 42 trucks, and ensures that in three weeks provisional solutions TOTAL...... 66,608 will be adopted regarding 65 water systems, while Slight damage...... 15,915 definitive repairs will take approximately two Destroyed...... 737 Affected homes months. TOTAL...... 16,652 Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.4 Page 2

7. The Corporation for Water and Sewage of Santo Boys Girls Region Location Families Persons Men Women under under Domingo - Corporación del Acueducto y Five Five

Alcantarillado de Santo Domingo (CAASD) says that North North region 2,989 14,546 2,765 1,847 1,720 4,276 the provision of potable water is practically South South region 3,920 15,366 5,492 5,890 1,919 2,299 normalized in most of the capital, as daily production East East region 15 52 Distrito Distrito increased to more than 370 million gallons. In 1,565 5,355 1,680 1,680 569 488 Nacional Nacional addition, CAASD is announcing a Crisis Mitigation TOTAL 8,489 35,319 9,937 9,417 4,208 7,063 Plan involving water trucking, distribution of water bottles and tanks to residents in areas still lacking service. Number of shelters by region

Food security and nutrition North 97 8. The Secretary of Food and Nutrition of the South 64 Secretary of State of Public Health and Social East 1 Distrito Nacional 51 Assistance - Secretaría de Alimentación y Nutrición TOTAL 213 de la Secretaría de Estado de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (SESPAS) has identified the need to distribute vitamin B vaccines as a preventive NATIONAL RESPONSE measure to children between 6 months and 5 years of age, pregnant and nursing mothers. In addition, food Organization is required for children under 3. 12. The Ministry of Agriculture guarantees the distribution of agricultural products and has 9. More than 50% of rice production in Bajo Yuna announced a six month worth of food reserves. is underwater and some 6,000 head of cattle were lost in the area. 13. The National Institute of Hydraulic Resources - Instituto Nacional de Recursos Hidráulicos (INDRHI) 10. In Barahona municipality, food is running out in reports that damage to irrigation systems in Bajo shelters, for which reason many have chosen to return Yuna is very serious and announces the to their homes, against the advice of Defensa Civil. implementation of an emergency plan for their rehabilitation. Shelters 11. General consolidated report on shelters by 14. SESPAS is preparing a Sanitary Guidelines region, according to the Dominican Red Cross is as book for Shelter Management in which they will follows: offer general guidelines for their operations. This will be focused on professionals and health workers.

15. The First Lady of Puerto Rico, Luisa Gandara, and the First Lady of the Dominican Republic, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández, traveled through Bajo Yuna on 3 November, taking aid to those left homeless. Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.4 Page 3 Actions 23. International assistance (cash contributions): 16. Aerial search and rescue and food distribution Type of operations continue in the areas of Bajo Yuna, Villa Amount No. of Institution Sector contributions (USD) Beneficiaries Altagracia, Bonao, San José de Ocoa and Azua. in kind Government $7,666,667 Food Aid Food Aid 246,000 of DR 17. The COE reports that on Saturday, 3 November, Nestle $166,667 23 aerial operations were conducted in areas affected USAID $600,000 by flooding. There were also four maritime Japan $112,300 Shelter In Kind operations and 60 land missions to transport Food AECI $290,120 Food Aid provisions and assist the affected population. Aid/Shelter Taiwan $100,000 18. Government institutions from the agricultural Canada $535,217 Food Germany $29,737 Food Aid sector on 3 November began an Emergency Short- Aid/Shelter Term Cultivation plan, which includes the planting of UNAIDS $15,000 95,670 hectares. Tractors were lent to farmers and Nutrition and seeds, fertilizers and pesticides were also distributed. UNICEF $60,000 Food/Health hygiene for children UNFPA $50,000 Shelter 19. On 3 November, Public Health held medical and UNV $50,000 Shelter fumigation operations in order to prevent the OCHA $50,000 outbreak of diseases in Bonao, and Villa OPS $50,000 Riva. UNDP $100,000 20. The Epidemiology Department - Dirección WFP $500,000 General de Epidemiología (DIGEPI) updated and DREF $199,280 expanded epidemiological surveillance information in BID $200,000 shelters and health centers. This information will be TOTAL $10,774,988 distributed in georeferenced thematic maps. 24. International assistance (in kind): 21. Those left homeless in the neighborhoods Type of No. of bordering the Ozama river in Distrito Nacional Institution Sector contributions Beneficiaries began to return to their homes. Cleaning and housing in kind Gobierno de RD Reconstruction of Shelter repair has begun in several communities in the housing Southwest, where water levels have dropped. Gobierno de RD Logistics Fuel Gobierno de RD Agriculture Re-planting 1,521,000 hectares Gobierno de RD Food Aid Food Aid 106,040 rations 22. The Distrito Nacional Council - Ayuntamiento ABA del Distrito Nacional (ADN) started on 5 November UNFPA Health Reproductive Health 10,000 kits to expand a housing repair operation involving 100 MAAG Logistics 2 helicopters & TA brigades. Francia Food Aid 7000 bags of food Carrefour Food Aid 5000 bags of food 50000 baby food, SESPA Food/Water 800000water purifier 2000 children's food ICRC Food Aid INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE kits Chlorine and cleaning Clorox/Colgate Water products Japan Water 10000 bottles Panama Water 96000 bottles Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.4 Page 4 mechanisms and methods of distribution of high NGO protein biscuits. 25. The Spanish Red Cross deployed on 5 November two water and sanitation experts to assist 33. On 4 November, the Dominican Red Cross, in in the installation of two water purification plants to agreement with the WFP, will begin the distribution supply water to some 4,000 people daily. of 7 metric tons of high protein biscuits, benefiting nearly 4,500 people in , Piedra BILATERAL Blanca, Azua and Barahona. Distribution operations 26. Venezuela will send two air shipments with 28 continued on Monday, 5 November. tons of humanitarian assistance, including potable water, non-perishable food, medicine, blankets, tents 34. On 4 November arrived an expert from the and demolition equipment. Regional Purchasing Office of WFP to support the acquisition of dry rations to be distributed following 27. A delegation of doctors and emergency the first emergency stage. management specialists from Puerto Rico visited on 3 November the Bajo Yuna zone in order to evaluate Coordination needs in the area. 35. The United Nations Emergency Team (UNETE) is responding to the crisis. UNETE has received UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM support from regional and international experts from several UNS agencies (UNDAC, OCHA, Health, water and sanitation PAHO/WHO, FAO, WFP, BCPR/UNDP) and is 28. PAHO/WHO is cooperating with SESPAS in accompanied by the CNE and Government preparation of the lists of basic inputs for immediate authorities. needed purchases for the application of water quality surveillance measures. 36. The UN Agencies, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Dominican 29. PAHO/WHO is cooperating with INAPA and Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red the Red Cross, in needs and damage evaluations on Cross have created a humanitarian team with the goal water and sanitation systems, water distribution of assigning a lead agency to each priority sector (1) plants and immediate actions for system Health, water, sanitation and hygiene (PAHO-WHO); rehabilitation in order to equip shelters, health (2) Food security and nutrition (WFP); (3) Shelters centers, public buildings and affected population with (Dominican Red Cross); (4) Recovery transition water supplies. (UNDP), and (5) Coordination and communications (Office of the Resident Coordinator). 30. PAHO/WHO sent vaccinations and supplies to Azua, Peravia and Barahona provinces. PRIORITY NEEDS 31. On 4 November, an international PAHO/WHO consultant on cold chains will arrive to support 37. The most important needs continue to be linked situational diagnostics and establish intervention to water, food security and nutrition, as well as measures. shelters.

Food security and nutrition 32. On 3 November, WFP and the Red Cross agreed on common standards for food rations and Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.4 Page 5

Health, water and sanitation TYPE QUANTITY PRIORITY

Vector Control For shelters Urgent Potable water 7 Lts. ( Person *day ) = 163,342 Lts. Urgent Trash bags 49300 Urgent

38. Needs continue in water supplies and solid and human waste disposal both in affected communities and shelters.

39. Preventive vitamin B vaccines for children between 6 months and 5 years, and pregnant and nursing mothers. Food is also required for children under 3.

Food security and nutrition TYPE QUANTITY PRIORITY

Cooked food 23,336 breakfasts, lunches and dinners Urgent rations daily

Baby formula 4500 Lts. Daily Urgent

Baby food 4,500 bottled and cereals Urgent

In-country contacts:

Shelters TYPE QUANTITY PRIORITY Comisión Nacional de Emergencia (CNE)

Mattresses 14,542 Urgent Major General R. Luís A. Paulino, President of the CNE Blankets 14,542 Urgent Nerys Vanderhorst, Executive Secretary of the CNE: Mosquito nets 12,500 Urgent [email protected] Telephone: +1 (809) 472 86 14

Personal needs TYPE QUANTITY PRIORITY Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia (COE) Colonel Juan Manuel Méndez, Director of the COE. Bathing soap 11,000 bars Urgent Telephone: + 1 (809) 472 09 09 Toilet paper 11,000 rolls Urgent Toothpaste 4,360 units Urgent Diapers 4,000 packages for children ages Urgent 2, 4 and 5 Tampon 8100 packages Urgent

Detergents 2,415 pounds Urgent Chlorox 1,700 gallons Urgent Brooms 3,200 units Urgent

Mops 3,200 units Urgent Tropical Storm Noel Dominican Republic Situation Report No.4 Page 6

For detailed information please contact:

Contact Details Desk Officer (New York) Mr. Ignacio León Office Tel: +1 917 367-9960 Office Fax: +1 212 963-36 30 E-mail: [email protected]

GCMS (Geneva) Ms. Aoibheann O’Keeffe Office Tel: +41 22 917 4329 E-mail: [email protected] OCHA Regional Office for Mr. Douglas Reimer Office Tel. + (507) 317-1748 Latin America and the Regional Disaster Response Adviser Office Fax + (507) 317-1744 Caribbean, Panama Mobile: + (507) 6676-1689 E-mail: [email protected] Press Contact: (NY) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Office Tel : + 1 917-367-5126 Office Fax: + 1 212-963-1312 Email: [email protected]

(GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Office Tel + 41 22 917 26 53 Office Fax + 41 22 917 00 20 E-mail: [email protected]