Hurricanes Gustav & Tropical Storm Hanna & Hurricane Ike HAITI SITUATION REPORT #12 11 September 2008 Prepared by: Kristie van de Wetering, Communications and Advocacy Officer, OGB-Haiti Summary information Common Name of Emergency: Hurricane Gustav & Tropical Storm Hanna & Hurricane Ike Date: 26 – 27 August 2008 (Gustav); 1-2 September (Hanna); 7 September (Hurricane Ike) Duration Country: Haiti Scale Main Classification: Natural Disaster Estimated # of People Affected: Officially 800,000; OCHA 500,000 Lead Oxfam: OGB Active Oxfams: Oxfam Quebec, Oxfam Intérmon Contribution Oxfams Contact information of lead Oxfam: Yolette Etienne, Country Director, [email protected], 509.3.404.3414 / 3.701.3414 Kone Amara, Humanitarian Coordinator, [email protected]; skype: kone.amara; telephone: 509.3.735.5044 1. Key Issues · Rains continue to fall almost daily in Port-au-Prince and in some other areas of the country · Hurricane Ike has caused massive flooding and destruction in the municipality of Cabaret (1 hour north of PAP); 63 dead thus far; of the 41 districts, 12 have been assessed by authorities: 988 families affected, 348 homes damaged; 68 homes destroyed; +/- 5,000 families in shelters · North, Northeast, Northwest still completely cut off by road – road cut at Ennery (just north of Gonaïves) · South, Nippes, Grand Anse completely cut off by road – bridge on National highway completely submerged; authorities have closed the road; only way to cross is in small boats · Access to Gonaïves only possible by air and sea; road cut at Mirebalais in Central Plateau · Central Plateau cut off from West department; road not passable · With the country cut into sections only accessible by air and/or boat, the question of supplies (food, gas et) to these areas is a great concern · Official information still coming in as to the damage caused: 56 deaths DPC, OCHA citing 327 · +/- 80,000 people in shelters; UNDP still citing 650,000 people affected on a national level · Information still considered to be partial, as communication with many affected areas is difficult · In depth evaluation team to go on Sunday, via plane to Les Cayes (south) · Gonaïves assessment team: team of 11 arrived in Gonaïves early in the morning on 9 September via boat along with 738 bottles of water (5 gallon each), 261 kitchen-hygiene kits, 2 vehicles; assessment underway; expected to start distributions in cooperation with other NGOs in the field over the weekend. 2. Security Gonaïves · Tense situation in shelters due to frustration of population at perceived slow humanitarian response. Many in shelters since 1 September and still not received any attention or even assessment. · Demonstrations took place on 7 September, outside Mayor’s office in protest over death of 4 people in shelters, population understands this to be due to starvation though likely due to a mix of illness and hunger. 1 · Earlier in the week there were reports of people coming to the shelters at night to steal; this has since diminished with the presence of more PNH officers and UN troops; some tensions as people know that there is food and supplies in town but distributions slow to get underway · No other significant incidents reported by DSS 3. General Humanitarian Situation · Latest DPC information unavailable at this time; official # of affected: 800,000; OCHA saying 500,000 Additional information gathered from Oxfam International staff: West Department o Cabaret (from Press Conference of the Ministry of the Interior) § 62 dead thus far, more missing § Of the 41 districts, 12 have been assessed by authorities: 6,000 families affected (1/2 of the population), 791 homes damaged; 264 homes destroyed; +/- 5,000 families in shelters (not confirmed) 2,330 families without shelter § TPTC (Ministry of Public works) has already repaired the water system and is working on clearing the national highway § Villages inaccessible o Port au Prince § Landslide in Carrefour-Feuilles some deaths and injuries reported Artibonite Department · Gonaïves (according to Sit Rep from field team) · Approximately ½ the population of Gonaïves is affected (no confirmed figures for the moment). · Approximately 60,000 people in 150 shelters around the city, 53 of which are official, the remainder are being registered by the DPC (Civil Protection). · Most of those in shelters have been there for 10 days now and many have not received any attention. Population see priorities as Food, Water, Medicine, and Hygiene materials in that order. · Gonaïves at end of its very limited coping mechanisms, any reserves that may have existed were flooded as water rose above level of roof of single storey houses. · Gonaïves already suffers high chronic malnutrition rates, much of the population accustomed to eating only 1 meal per day. Food · WFP has been distributing for the last few days, on the boat that Oxfam travelled on 8 September there was enough food for 100,000 people for 2 days according to WFP estimates; Distributions taking place at 5am and 11pm in order to avoid general awareness and problems with the population on the roads trying to hijack the humanitarian aid. · Coal beginning to be available therefore WFP soon to change from distribution of energy biscuits to dry rations. · 4 people have died in shelters; no confirmed causes yet, probably a mix of health and hunger problems. Water · Most of the shelters have no access to potable water. · Most drinking from contaminated wells a long way from their shelter leading to high rates of diarrhoea, very roughly around 50% of the population in the shelters currently suffering. · Will be very difficult to place T-Tank in majority of shelters due to unstable bases (mud and flooding in all areas of centre and south of city.) Sanitation · Latrines on ground floor, in many shelters are out of use due to flooding and mud. 2 · Enormous overcrowding in the shelters and no bedding or bathing areas. · Most people defecating in bags and throwing them onto the street · No hygiene materials available in the shelters, with cramped conditions meaning enormous public health risk. Health · Hospital flooded and not usable, 4 health centres functioning in the city · 3805 consultations in the last 5 days in the 4 health centres Approximate breakdown of: · 20% Diarrhoea · 20% skin infections · 20% Respiratory infections · 20% digestive infections · 20% “other” Reported 179 cases of malaria, although probably exaggerated as proper blood tests have not been done. Southeast Department · Landslide on National highway going to Jacmel · Lutheran World Federation conducting an assessment in Mapou and Belle Anse; possibility of OGB Belle Anse staff to participate Belle-Anse · Belle Anse is cut off from Jacmel (where all supplies are); only accessible by boat · Pichon and Mapou (where OGB has project) are cut off from the town of BA; Pichon accessible by boat · Reports of significant loss of livestock and damage to agriculture · Sanitary and health conditions critical as lots of stagnant water · Shelters were established; 249 people in 4 shelters · Red Cross and CROSE distributing WFP food in BA · OGB staff: supplies are very low; no access to internet; water system destroyed; staff using rain water to bathe; have ordered drinking water via boat North & Northeast · OGB staff in Cap Haitian have reduced their movement due to the gas shortage in the department; looking into possibility of getting gas from DR 4. General Political Relations/Context · See “Security” – discussions around the role of INGOs and coordination with the State 5. General Context · See OCHA report 6. Program Activities Artibonite (Gonaïves & Surrounding Areas) · Assessment currently under way; including identification and visitation of shelters · UNICEF materials arrived; 780 wash basins & 460 NFI kits arrived by boat · Response to begin Friday evening or Saturday morning. · Regular meetings with other NGOs 3 Nippes o Nippes in depth evaluation team: still blocked as access to Nippes is blocked; looking into possibilities to fly to Les Cayes (south) and rent vehicle to go to Nippes and/or possibility for crossing water by boat; efforts being made to deploy team by Saturday West · Cabaret o Distribution of 1,000 5-gallon bottles of drinking water planned for 12 September 7. Oxfam International Planned activities of Oxfam International: First response Oxfam Affiliate Type of Activities Place of # of estimated Duration Intervention Intervention beneficiaries Water and 3 water Gonaïves 10,000 people 3 months Intermon sanitation purification Oxfam stations WATSAN materials Water and Gonaïves and 3 months sanitation surrounding Support to Shelters areas Nippes (Paillant, Oxfam Quebec Petite Rivière de Nippes, Anse à Veau) Water and Distribution of Gonaïves and 15,000 people 3 months sanitation kitchen- surrounding Support to Shelters hygiene kits areas Distribution of Nippes (Paillant, 3,000 people water Mirogane) Oxfam Great Britain Distribution of hot meals West (Petit 4,000 people Goâve, Grand Cleaning of Goâve, Tabarre, homes Carrefour, PAP, Cabaret) Construction of temporary North (Borgne, 500 people latrines Limbe, Port Margot, Bahon) 2nd Response Oxfam Affiliate Type of Activities Place of # of estimated Intervention Intervention beneficiaries 4 Food Security Details to come Intermon Oxfam Water and Gonaïves and sanitation surrounding Oxfam Quebec areas Kits Jacmel Water system repair; cleaning of wells, and Gonaïves and 25,000 people purification of surrounding Oxfam Great Water and boreholes areas Britain sanitation PHP and hygiene Waste Nippes 10,000 people management Cleaning and repairs to neighbourhoods and homes Sanitary infrastructure for schools Disaster Risk Reduction 5 .