UN AGENCIES HELP STORM-STRUCK HAITI AND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

NEW YORK/GENEVA, 21 September (OCHA) -- In the wake of devastating storms in the Caribbean, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) reports that at least 500 people lost their lives and more than 380 people have been injured in the northern coast city of Gonaives due to severe flooding caused by tropical storm Jeanne, which hit Haiti on 18 September.  A United Nations humanitarian assessment mission that went to Gonaives, Haiti yesterday reports that all urban areas in that north-western city suffered flooding, and that 50 per cent of Gonaives is still covered by water.

The assessment mission, which comprised representatives from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Children’s Fund, the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Development Programme, and the non-governmental organization Doctors Without Borders, says an estimated 80 per cent of Gonaives’ population is affected by the flooding and most of the agricultural land, upon which the population depends for sustenance, has been flooded.  Several thousand people displaced by the floods are staying in some 20 locations around the city.

The most urgent needs are for clean drinking water, as the region is flooded with mud.  Distribution of clean water has, so far, been hampered by a lack of fuel and roads blocked by debris and high water.  As the Gonaives hospital has been flooded, support for local health care capacity is critical.  The World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross Movement have only been able to deliver small amounts of medical supplies, so far.  The WFP and the non-governmental organization CARE will distribute some 40 metric tons of food to the people most in need at 10 different distribution points.  Security for food distribution centres will be important as the threat of looting is perceived to be high.

In the city of Port–de-Paix, the river remains very high and some villages on the banks have been flooded.  Most agricultural land in the vicinity of Port-de-Paix appears to be saturated, and most plantations in low lands are under water.  About 30 per cent of Port-de-Paix remains covered by water, especially those areas along the coast.  Many streets are still blocked by mud and debris.

Meanwhile, in the Dominican Republic, where OCHA has deployed a United Nations Disaster and Coordination (UNDAC) Team, thousands of people were stranded as rivers flowed over their banks during the tropical storm Jeanne.  The Yuna River overflowed on the night of 18 September, isolating the towns of La Verde, Las Coles, Ceiba Los Pajaros and Los Contreras, where flooding has forced more than 37,000 people to abandon their homes.  It is reported that 11 people lost their lives, 261 were injured and six were missing in the flooding.  Some 38,000 people have been evacuated, 22,000 of whom are in shelters run by the Government.  Another 16,000 people are staying with families and friends.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHANY, tel.:  917 367 5126, mobile:  917 892 1679; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel.:  41 22 917 2653, mobile:  41(0) 79 473 4570.

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