| This report dated: | |
| 12 Nov 1998 | |
CENTRAL AMERICA - HURRICANE/TROPICAL STORM MITCH OCHA SITUATION REPORT NO. 13 - 12 NOVEMBER 1998General Overview Hurricane Mitch swept across Central America, affecting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize and Costa Rica, early in the week of 27 October, then became stationary off the Caribbean coast of Honduras, resulting in torrential rains, flooding, landslides and winds of different intensities. Up to three million people have been affected by the hurricane, considered the worst natural disaster ever to hit Central America. The destruction of housing, agriculture, and infrastructure is on an unprecedented scale. Damage to highways, roads, bridges, electricity, water and sewage systems, communications systems, housing and schools cause major problems. On behalf of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Sergio Vieira de Mello is undertaking a mission to El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. The purpose of the mission is to strengthen the support of the UN System to the countries concerned, to mobilize further international efforts to meet emergency and rehabilitation needs, to evaluate the UN system response and to help determine what additional measures the UN could take to assist the affected countries.
The latest update on damage and casualties in four Central American States following the impact of Hurricane Mitch is indicated below.
Honduras Nicaragua Guatemala El Total
Salvador
People killed 7,000 1,849 258 239 9,346
Missing 8,052 1,287 120 235 9,694
Affected population 1,393,669 800,000 105,000 67,300 2,365,969
Houses 70,000 24,975 19,093 10,000 124,068
destroyed/damaged
OCHA has been requested by PAHO/WHO to communicate to donors and actors
in the countries that, although the risk of dengue, malaria, cholera and
other diseases has increased in the aftermath of Hurricane 'Mitch', no
epidemics are resulting from the hurricane. PAHO/WHO recommend the
following measures: health education, sanitation and water supply,
vector control. Provided they receive generous material support from the
international community, the affected countries have the necessary
experience to control the epidemiological situation.
The impact of 'Mitch' on Central American economies is yet to be fully nalysed. Preliminary estimates of damage to key sectors such as agriculture, road networks and supply systems indicate that years of economic growth have been wiped out. National and International Response Relief Operations Improving weather conditions over most parts of Central America as well as temporary repairs and opening of road networks have facilitated ongoing assessments and distribution of relief supplies. However, access still remains a major problem in a number of affected areas. The deployment of international specialised staff and helicopters has brought Central American governments' rescue, relief and assessment efforts into hitherto inaccessible areas of their affected provinces. OCHA/UNDAC teams are assisting national emergency services in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. A French contingent of over 200 engineers and disaster experts with equipment has arrived in Nicaragua. USAID/OFDA Disaster Response Teams (DART) are in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. USAID/OFDA has provided support to US Department of Defence (DOD) aircraft operations. 40 DOD helicopters are scheduled for forward deployment in the region. Argentina is dispatching White Helmets officers to assist in the region. In response to requests for military and civil defence/protection assets issued by OCHA, the following assets have been provided to support the relief efforts: on 9 November, OCHA was informed by the Department for International Development that three naval ships of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with eight helicopters on board HMS Ocean were available and ready to assist relief operations. A Dutch team with rescue boats and about 100 personnel arrived in Northern Honduras on 6 Nov 1998 to perform search and rescue operations in a first phase and logistics support as a follow up task. Presently another team from the Netherlands is performing assessment in regard to potable water supply. The Government of Germany informed that it is supporting the UNDAC Teams in Central America by providing three water and sanitation experts for assessment and coordination purposes and to identify projects to be funded by Germany. Following the first OCHA/Italy/Norway relief flight (see earlier sitreps), the Governments of Canada and Italy are financing a further airlift of 55 MT WFP High Energy Biscuits from the OCHA Pisa Warehouse to Honduras and Nicaragua. The first shipments left Pisa on 08 Nov and 10 Nov with further flights scheduled. WFP is distributing over 11,000 tons of food, from in-country stocks, to 682,000 victims in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, using food stocks from its development programmes to provide the emergency food. In order to meet the emergency needs, WFP is diverting vessels carrying food to non-emergency countries. UNICEF is implementing a wide range of emergency assistance activities in the affected countries, including assessment of the health situation of children, distribution of oral rehydration salts, provision of essential drugs, clean water and blankets, funding for the procurement of medicines and for health/education activities in shelters, water and sanitation programmes. Staff from National Red Cross Societies continue in the forefront of relief operations. Major voluntary organisations such as MSF-France and OXFAM have made available medical supplies and teams to work with national staff on appropriate responses in the health and food sectors. Emergency needs During his visit to four of the affected countries, USG Vieira de Mello indicated that the brunt of emergency response needs fall in the sectors of food, transport, health and water. Detailed information on needs, by country, is provided below. Pending requests for mobilization of assets through the OCHA Military and Civil Defence Unit (MCDU) include: a request for mobile bridges for Honduras, additional rotary wing airlift for in-country distribution of relief items in the whole region and strategic airlift into the region. Requests for water treatment/transport/distribution capacities and other upcoming needs are under preparation, if confirmed by in-country assessment. WFP estimates that US $58 million (total food tonnage over 116,000 tons) will be required to feed 1.125 million of the most vulnerable victims of Hurricane Mitch. WFP has launched an emergency appeal accordingly. The expanded WFP emergency operation will run from November to May 1999 in the four worst affected countries. On 4 November 1998, WHO launched an appeal for US $10 million for emergency health aid to the region. The amount is expected to be revised upwards as new needs emerge. These funds are urgently required for emergency repairs to hospitals and health centres, surveillance systems to detect diseases such as dengue fever, diarrhoea, cholera and others and to purchase health supplies, insecticides, water containers and chlorine. IFRC has appealed for 12.5 million Swiss Francs (about US $8 million) to assist 180,000 beneficiaries for the coming three months. Funds will be used for provision of food, tents, medicines, kitchen utensils and drinking water. OCHA continues its efforts to mobilize priority emergency requirements not yet met through contributions delivered or in the pipeline. There is a consensus in the region on the need to ensure that rehabilitation projects also serve to prevent or mitigate the consequences of future disasters in this disaster prone region. Specific areas that need to be addressed through rehabilitation projects (both national and regional) include integrated watershed management, environmental conservation and rehabilitation, including reforestation and settlement of populations in areas that are not at risk. UNDP Offices in the region are currently developing projects in these areas as well as in others. There is also a recognition in the region of the need to strengthen, and in some cases build up national and regional natural disaster early warning, prevention, mitigation and response mechanisms.
OCHA has mobilized four UNDAC teams, consisting of 15 members from seven nations and OCHA staff, one team deployed to each of the four most affected countries to support the coordination activities led by the UN Resident Coordinators. One UNHCR staff member has been attached to the UNDAC team in Nicaragua. OCHA is holding regular coordination meetings with UN agencies in Geneva. The meeting of 9 November, attended by UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, WHO and FAO, focused on comparing available data on the number of affected and health risks. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, 12 November. OCHA is also convening an information meeting for donors in Geneva on 12 November in order to provide an update on the emergency situation, relief needs, national and international response and to discuss future mechanisms for donor coordination. WHO/PAHO is assuming the coordination of disaster response and mitigation actions in the health sector, and is enlisting the support of epidemiologists and vector control experts and implementing the SUMA (Supply Management Programme) emergency supply management system to ensure smooth delivery of materials and distribution to affected areas. NGOs working in public health are urged to coordinate and consult with the local PAHO/WHO Office in the affected countries to ensure a common strategy.
The international response has increased significantly over the last few days. Pledges and contributions worth approximately US $119 million (excluding uncosted contributions in kind and services) have been reported to OCHA to date in response to this disaster. A detailed breakdown of pledges and contributions is provided in the attached Contributions Table.
Parallel to the ongoing intensive efforts to meet the immediate needs of victims, the groundwork for the enormous reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks are jointly laid by Central American Governments, the United Nations and financial institutions. The General Assembly of the United Nations at its current session has called on the Secretary-General and all organs and agencies of the United Nations system to assist Central American countries to ensure the recovery of their economies. It also requested the Secretary-General to submit a report at its 54th session on progress made in the region with rehabilitation efforts. At a meeting held in San Salvador on 9 November, the Presidents of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua and the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guatemala made an appeal to international and regional financial institutions as well as to the international community to assist their countries in recovering from the crisis inflicted by Hurricane Mitch. Furthermore, they made an appeal for the establishment of a Regional Emergency Consultative Mechanism, consisting of the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the International Monetary Fund, the G-7, the European Union and the United Nations, to channel financial resources towards the recovery process. Some major donors have pledged international assistance geared towards alleviating the foreign debt burden of most seriously affected countries. Both the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have indicated that loans will be re-directed towards necessities following the hurricane tragedy. On 10 November 1998, the World Bank announced that it is already making available US $200 million from existing projects. UNDP and ECLAC have agreed to undertake a comprehensive regional evaluation of the economic impact of Mitch as a basis for a coordinated rehabilitation programme. UNDP is setting up a sub-regional Trust Fund to support reconstruction work. USG Vieira de Mello and UNDP Administrator Speth will convene an Inter-Agency Task Force to ensure linkages between emergency response and rehabilitation activities.
HONDURAS
Within the donor community and humanitarian agencies present in the country, it is believed that the immediate life-threatening emergency phase is coming to an end. However, it is expected that humanitarian assistance will be required for a period of between 3 to 6 months. Ongoing National and International Operations In spite of a fairly comprehensive collection, analysis and evaluation of data by the National Emergency Management Commission, the national response has been hindered by the magnitude of the disaster. International assistance has been massive with donations in cash and in kind. The UN response has been considerable, with tons of food and medicines being provided to the affected population.
Coordination activities (in-country)
Unmet Needs
Present situation Rains continue intermittently. Water levels in rivers are going down. Some villages remain isolated and still require airlifts of relief goods. The vital road link to the affected regions (North) has now been reopened by means of a temporary bridge. The pressure on the air operation should be eased in the coming days. The road towards the East (Juigalpa) is open as far as Rama, and also the road from Managua to Leon and Chinandega. From Chinandega to the Honduran border, only 20 km are reopened. Communities along the border are still isolated. Posoltega, hit by the landslide from the volcano la Casita, has received special attention and needs are reported to be well covered there. In many instances, relief food is distributed on a "food for work" basis. Sectoral in-depth surveys are now required to determine the various medium and long-term needs of the affected population. The rehabilitation process can already start and sectoral coordination is recommended to avoid duplication. In advance of the in-depth ECLAC damage evaluation mission scheduled for end November, UNDP is supporting a first phase immediate evaluation based on the same methodology. Ongoing National and International Operations Assessment teams from various national organisations (Civil Defense, Health Ministry/PAHO, Local Emergency Committees, etc.) are now visiting most of the affected regions. Results of these assessments are awaited. Japan is sending a 16 member medical team to assist in the treatment, control and surveillance of diseases. While the emergency phase is not yet completely over, in-country actors active before Mitch are already looking at the rehabilitation phase. Most of the organisations intend to work in regions and municipalities or communities where they have experience and relationships. Clearly the immediate, and somewhat temporary rehabilitation activities will need to be strengthened through a major reconstruction programme. Coordination Activities (in country) The UN Resident Coordinator, supported by the UNDAC team, has established mechanisms to exchange information and establish eventual linkages for field operations with the actors involved in the emergency phase, donors and the National Emergency Committee / Civil Defense. The emphasis is already shifting from the emergency phase to immediate quick impact projects in the field, initially through existing UN project structures of UNICEF, PAHO/WHO, UNFPA, UNDP, and in the case of UNDP, through focal points placed in 5 departments for the emergency / immediate shelter recovery phase. Unmet Needs
Present Situation High pressure entering the national territory has improved the weather at the national level with light rains in the northern part of the country. Water levels are slowly falling due to evaporation and drainage in the most affected areas (Polochic valley, Motagua valley and Pacific Coast). With the improved weather conditions, isolated communities are being reached and in-depth sectoral assessments are ongoing, which will set-up the basis for rehabilitation and reconstruction.
On-going National and International Operations
A mission from Sweden was deployed on 10 November to assess needs in terms of bailey bridges to restore communications with isolated communities. A preliminary mission from ECLAC visited the country the same day in order to plan for an economic-impact assessment which will support the Government's efforts to design its rehabilitation and reconstruction strategy. Co-ordination Activities (In-Country) The Resident Coordinator's Office, supported by the UNDAC team, is fostering coordination between the Government and the international community through the capture, processing and dissemination of information, contained in daily Situation Reports. These have contributed to resource mobilisation to address priority needs. The UN also assists in orienting donors, organising missions and preparing project profiles to match specific donor contributions. The UN System in-country is planning for a concerted rehabilitation-reconstruction strategy, with an inter-disciplinary, multi-sectoral approach, geographically focused, in order to optimise available resources and serve as seed money for donors to contribute. Capacity building will be highlighted in order to strengthen the local/community organisation to face disasters. The geographical areas and the specific issues to address will be based on the results of the ECLAC mission and sectoral/geographical evaluations under way. Main Unmet Needs
El SALVADOR
As stated at the Summit of the Central American Presidents, the focus is being shifted from relief phase to the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. However, the affected population is returning to their places of origin, where living conditions are still very bad and where they lack minimum requirements such as water, food and proper shelter or housing, compounded by hygiene and health problems. The National Emergency Committee (COEN) indicates the number of affected people at 67,265, of which 33,926 are in shelters. Detailed breakdown by department available with OCHA. The following departments require most assistance: Sonsonate (West), La Libertad, La Paz, Usulutan (Central), La Union and San Miguel (East). The Economic Commission for Central America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) has estimated, before its visit next week, that damage to the economy will reach at least 10% of the GDP. Losses to coffee amount to US$ 33 million (10% of this year's crop), loss to arable land to 90,000 hectares (basic cereals and grains) representing 2,800,000 quintals of maize, sorghum, beans and rice. A preliminary estimate of rehabilitation cost amounts to US $120 million. Ongoing National and International Operations The Government has announced the launching of a "Social Aid Package" programme to provide 10000 families with a kit, comprising temporary shelter and latrine (in wood) and basic household goods and foodstuffs for one month. International Response The UN System is supporting the national efforts in each area of the social spectrum. WFP has distributed 900 MT of food so far. UNICEF has distributed urgently needed medicines to the project sites targeted for women and children. WHO/PAHO provides support for the procurement and supply of medicines. UNESCO has allocated US$ 150,000 for the region for the rebuilding of schools. UNEP has been in the country to conduct a preliminary study on the impact of the disaster on the environment. The current situation is being closely monitored through UNDP projects addressing the improvement of housing conditions and social development in the eastern region, greatly affected by the civil conflict. Coordination Activities (In-Country) COEN (Comite de Emergencia Nacional) is co-ordinating all the relief efforts, including statistical reporting in co-operation with the information cell (clearing house) set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is the counterpart of the International Community Response. Moreover, the National Association of Private Enterprise (ANEP), the donor and the receiving party supervise the operation. Co-ordination mechanisms need to be strengthened related to reporting and assessment between the various government bodies, at central and provincial level, and the other humanitarian actors. The UNDAC team, in support of the UN Resident Coordinator, is gathering information from various actors and assisting the UN-DMT (Disaster Management Team) in-country. The National Red Cross and COEN have been assigned specific areas for relief activities. The NGO community is creating a data base to define specific immediate needs and those to be considered for the rehabilitation and reconstruction phase. Unmet Needs
OCHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash contributions for the immediate relief needs detailed above. Funds channelled through OCHA will be spent in coordination with the relevant organizations of the UN system and OCHA will provide written confirmation of their use. Funds should be transferred to OCHA account No. CO-590.160.1 at the UBS AG, PO Box 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: OCHA - Central America - Hurricane Mitch. For coordination purposes, donors are requested to inform OCHA Geneva, as indicated below, of relief missions, pledges or contributions and their corresponding values by item. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA Internet Website at: http://www.reliefweb.int. Telephone number: + 41-22-917-12 34 in case of emergency only: + 41-22-917 20 10 Desk Officer: Mr. Erik Haegglund, direct tel: + 41-22-917 32 99 Contact person for the media: Ms. Elena Ponomareva direct tel:+41-22-91723 36 Fax: + 41-22 917 00 23 E-mail: info@dha.unicc.org Hurricane Mitch - http://www.vita.org/mitch.htm
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