PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DISCUSSION IS NO LONGER MODERATED. FOR INFORMATION (updates, reports, coordination arrangements, contacts) ON THE HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE IN HAITI, PLEASE CONSULT:
https://www.humanitarianresponse.info/en/operations/haiti
Hurricane Matthews caused significant damage in Cuba, Haiti and the Bahamas, where assessments are ongoing. The storm exacerbated existing vulnerabilities in the three countries. The thirteenth named storm, fifth hurricane and second major hurricane of the active 2016 Atlantic hurricane season, Matthew wrought widespread destruction and catastrophic loss of life during its journey across the Western Atlantic, including parts of the Dominican Republic, the Lucayan Archipelago and the south of the United States.
In Jamaica , an initial rapid assessment was conducted, concluding that the overall impact of the hurricane in the areas evaluated was insignificant and that circulation of people and commercial life was getting back to normality. PAHO reports that the main needs remain water and sanitation supplies. As of 11 October, the Directorate of Civil Protection of Haiti has so far confirmed 473 deaths, 339 injuries, and 75 people missing. The number of evacuees is 175,509 people from four departments: Grand’Anse (99,400), Nippes (7,866), Ouest (3,877), and Sud (64,366). They are now living in some 224 temporary shelters. Among the approximate 2.1 million people affected, UNICEF estimates that 894,057 are children. Nearly 1,410,774 people need humanitarian assistance, including 592,581 children. Humanitarian needs include access to a sufficient supply of quality water, education, shelter, child protection, health and nutrition. Many houses, schools and hospitals have been damaged or destroyed in the affected areas. Cholera continues to be a large concern and emergency interventions are complementing the existing cholera response where possible. Preliminary reports from the Emergency Food Security Assessment indicate that the North-West Department is severely affected, where 60 to 90 per cent of crops are lost. In Cuba , national authorities are assessing damages; however, access to some areas is limited due to damaged roads and bridges, fallen trees and debris. The storm caused severe damage in the eastern provinces of Guantanamo and Holguin, which were of the least developed in the country and had been suffering from a prolonged drought prior to the hurricane. The six most affected municipalities of Guantanamo and Holguin are home to some 300,000 people. Early reports estimate 90 per cent destruction of housing in Baracoa and Maisí municipalities where some 110,000 people reside. The Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) deployed Rapid Needs Assessment Teams (RNAT) to the Bahamas to support the Government´s assessment and response. United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team members are working jointly with the CDEMA teams. Three teams commenced assessments in New Providence, Andros Island and Grand Bahama. Preliminary assessments have revealed flooding of buildings and major roads; severe damages to houses, schools and health facilities; fallen electrical poles and trees; and damage to infrastructure including electricity, water and communication. In the Dominican Republic, people have begun to return to their homes and all the restrictions for ships and water sports have been lifted along the country´s coastline. As of 6 October, four deaths are attributed to the hurricane. The government alerted on the risks of crossing rivers with high amounts of water as well as possible landslides and maintains the green alert in two provinces. In the USA, all tropical storm warnings have been discontinued. Winds are diminishing along the North Carolina Coast but water levels will remain elevated overnight. (NHC, US) The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) continues the dialogue with international and national partners, mainly OCHA and ECHO, to coordinate its support with other actors. Matthew has forced the evacuation of more than 1.3 million people in the Caribbean. The humanitarian community is mobilizing funds to meet the needs of those affected.
Maps USAID Humanitarian Assistance TC Matthew
OCHA TC Matthew Infographic
Bahamas
At the request of the UN Resident Coordinador in Jamaica also in charge of Bahamas, Mr. Bruno Pouezat, and in coordination with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), OCHA decided to re-deploy the UNDAC team that was deployed to Jamaica to the Bahamas in response to the impact of Hurricane Matthews
Jamaica
Attached is the request for assistance from the Govt of Jamaica. "The Government of Jamaica and its Disaster Management System is ready to receive and welcomes any assistance that can be provided by the United Nations and its various mechanisms to our Emergency Disaster Response efforts".
OCHA already deployed an UNDAC team, with MapAction support.
Haiti
On 3 October, the Government of Haiti has issued a formal request for assistance to the UN system and its support mechanisms, as well as to the bilateral and multilateral cooperation and NGOs.
Several agencies have already pre-deployed reinforcement teams to their existing presence in Haiti. At the request of the DSRSG/RC/HC, OCHA deployed an UNDAC team with support from the Americas Support Team (AST).
Cuba
The Government of Cuba has not issued a request for assistance.
