HURRICANE EARL Situation Report No. 1 August 5, 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

 On August 4, 2016 at 09:00 (BLZ time), the country of was declared ALL CLEAR by the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO)  Priorities are focused on restoration of utilities, search and rescue, medical care to those affected, providing shelters, clearing up roads and highways, and inspecting airports and seaports  No deaths occurred and all community and regional hospitals are fully operational.

184,700 0 907 0 0 Persons Affected1 Persons Missing Persons in Fatalities Health Shelters2 Establishments Affected

1 UNICEF, from August 05, 2016 2 The National Emergency Management Operations (NEMO), Belize from August 04, 2016

SITUATION OVERVIEW

On August 4, 2016, Hurricane Earl (Category 1), struck Belize and has since downgraded to a Tropical Storm as it moves westward away from Belize. Currently, no deaths have been reported. However, major infrastructure and building damage has been reported in addition to blocked roads, due to high water levels in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, , Ladyville, Belize River Valley, Orange Walk, Belmopan, and other affected areas.

Authorities in Belize have responded to over 100 search and rescue requests during the hurricane. Twenty nine shelters have been made available, housing 907 persons. Flash flooding has been reported in the Cayo District and communities along the Macal and Mopan Rivers have been advised to immediately seek higher ground.

Initial reports indicated that Belize City has extensive flooding and may have structural damage, particularly to low-income homes. In addition, there may be extensive damages to agriculture.

The Ministry of Health has stated, “At this time all Community and Regional hospitals and Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital have resumed regular services. They were able to maintain exceptional functioning operations to the public during the passage of Hurricane Earl with minimal disruption”. Restoration of power services is ongoing and cleanup of the roads is in progress. The Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is fully operational.

Centro de Operaciones de Emergencia de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud www.paho.org/desastres 1

All staff at the PWR-Belize Office have been confirmed safe, and the office is currently, operating with essential personnel.

OTHER COUNTRIES

In , nearly 123 people were evacuated by national rescue teams; however, no damage was reported to health services in areas affected by the storm.

In , no damages were reported to the health infrastructure during the first rapid health assessments. It has been reported that 141 people have been affected in Islas de la Bahia; 11 families are in shelters.

NEEDS • Damage and Needs Analysis (DANA) of structures • Analysis of water and sanitation (WASH) • Establishing preventative methods for vector control • Providing proper hygiene messages and promoting

RESPONSE ACTIONS:

GOVERNMENT  Ministry of Works is cleaning up roads  Rapid health facility assessments are ongoing  Advised residents to treat drinking water which may have been contaminated due to flooding

PAHO/WHO • PAHO is deploying o one Health Coordination expert from Washington DC o one WASH expert from Barbados o one DANA and Smart Hospitals Initiative expert from Barbados

IFRC

• Mobilized two response experts from Panama

OCHA

• Mobilized a coordination officer to assist UNETT Chair in coordination and information management

Pan American Health Organization www.paho.org/disasters 2

UNICEF

• Will update UNHCR on refugee and asylum seeker populations within shelters

Partner Coordination

• UNICEF, IFRC, and the Guatemalan Red Cross are ready to provide humanitarian assistance (relief items), if required

Pan American Health Organization www.paho.org/disasters 3

Map of Hospitals in Belize

HOSPITALS IN BELIZE

1. Northern Regional Hospital (Orange Walk) 1

. 2. Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital (Belize City) 2-5

3. Belize Medical Associates 6-8 (Belize City)

4. National Health Services (Belize City)

5. Belize Healthcare Partners Limited (Belize City)

6. Lopez Pharmacy & Medical 10-11 Clinic (Belmopán)

7. St Luke’s Medical Center (Belmopán)

8. Western Regional Hospital (Belmopán)

9. The Hope Clinic (Dangriga)

10. San Ignacio Hospital (San Ignacio)

11. La Loma Luz Seventh Day Adventist Hospital (San Ignacio)

Sources:

• National Emergency Management Operations (NEMO), Belize • Ministry of Health Belize • PWR- Belize • PWR- Guatemala • Belize Electricity Limited • International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC)

Pan American Health Organization www.paho.org/disasters 4

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For more information, please contact: Or visit: www.paho.org

To be added or removed from this distribution list of situation reports, please email: [email protected]

Pan American Health Organization www.paho.org/disasters 5