OCHA SITREP 1 - FLOODING

HAITI FLOODING - SITUATION REPORT NO. 1

This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by OCHA Haiti Field Office. It covers the period from 6 to 11 October. The next report will be issued on or around 12 October.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES

- Two persons are reported missing following torrential rains in the southern tip of the country

- Some 416 families evacuated to emergency shelters in the South department

- Funding gaps affect ability to respond to cholera outbreaks resulting from heavy rains in Sud and Nippes

II. SITUATION OVERVIEW

Heavy rains from 6 to 10 October caused important flooding in Haiti’s southern departments of the South, Nippes and Grande Anse. Two people are reported to be missing in Port-à-Piment, South department. The Departmental Emergency Operation Center (COUD) for the South was activated by the authorities on 10 October. An 8.5inch rise in water level of all the departments’ rivers led to important flooding of the cities of les Cayes, Port-à-Piment, Camp Perrin, Coteau and Damassin. Flooding has also been reported in Baradères and l’Azile, Nippes department, as well as Pestel and Corail in Grande Anse. According to preliminary estimates, 416 households have been evacuated to emergency shelters. Torrential rains also led to an increase in the number of new cholera cases and deaths in the Nippes and South departments at a time when funding gaps threaten the ongoing response to the epidemic.

III. HUMANITARIAN NEEDS AND RESPONSE

EMERGENCY SHELTER

Needs: Widespread flooding caused damage to hundreds of houses and fields.

Response: Evacuations are ongoing in the South department. A total 200 families in les Cayes, 98 in Camp Perrin, 54 in Saint Jean du Sud, 4 in Chantal and 60 in Coteaux have been relocated to emergency shelters.

Gaps & Constraints: An assessment mission by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) scheduled to travel to Les Anglais in the South department, was unable to leave les Cayes due to the flooding of the main road leading to coastal areas. In the commune of Charbonnières authorities were unable to
relocate affected people to the emergency shelter due to rising water levels.

HEALTH

Needs: Cholera outbreaks have been observed in the South department, notably in the communes of Les Anglais, and Port-à Piment as well as camp Perrin where 34 cholera cases have been confirmed this week.

A total of 18 deaths have been reported since 6 October in the Nippes department.

Gaps & Constraints: According to PAHO, several partners will run out of funds in the Nippes department by 31 November and one partner will have to phase out its operation by 31 October in the South department. The non-payment of salaries of Cholera Treatment Centers and Units’ (CTCs/UTCs) medical staff by the Ministry of Public Health and population (MSPP) led to the non-admission of cholera patients in Beaumont, Grand Fond and les Irois UTCs.

Following the departure of MDM-Belgique, Paillant CTC in the Nippes department is no longer operational. Due to a lack of ambulances, patients have been reported dying on the way to Miragoâne CTC. Access to Immaculate Conception Hospital and areas such as camp Perrin and Rendel in the South department, where most of the new cholera cases originate, is blocked by water levels. Camp Perrin CTC is lacking medical
supplies such as oral rehydration serum, gloves and masks. Les Anglais CTU, currently treating 26 patients, has one nurse and two auxiliaries sleeping on benches due to a lack of beds and tents.

V. FUNDING

As of 11 October, the US$382 million Consolidated Humanitarian Appeal (CAP) is 59 per cent funded.

A US$300,000 grant from the Emergency Relief Response Fund (ERRF) has been allocated to Solidarité International to implement cholera response and prevention activities in the Nippes and South Departments from 15 October 2011 to 15 March 2012.

All humanitarian partners including donors and recipient agencies are encouraged to inform FTS of cash and in-kind contributions by sending an e-mail to: fts@un.org .

VI. CONTACT

Contact Information:
Head of OCHA Haiti: Philippe Verstraeten; Email: verstraeten@un.org

Spokesperson/ Public Information Officer: Emmanuelle Schneider,
E-mail: schneider1@un.org

Public Information Officer: Rachelle Elien: E-mail: elien@un.org

Reporting Officer: Abdourahmane Diallo Email: diallo57@un.org / ocha.haiti@gmail.com

For more information on the response in Haiti, please visit:
http://haiti.humanitarianresponse.info

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, (OCHA), Boulevard Toussaint Louverture et Clercine 18, Port-au-Prince, Haiti.