VOICES OF THE AMERICAS AND THE CARIBBEAN SPECIAL EDITION Hurricane Matthew OCT.2016
p2. Analysis of the situation • p4. Red Cross Actions • p7. Haiti Operation: Response • p8. IFRC appeals for 6.8 millon Swiss francs to assist haitian communities devastated by hurricane Matthew • p9. Bahamas: Families evacuated during hurricane Matthew • p10. No more homes to return to • p11. Coastal communities struggling to recover from Matthew • p12. The lasting effects of hurricane Matthew • p13. Red Cross Red Crescent relief items amongst first to arrive in Haiti • p14. Health problems on the rise in Haiti after hurricane Matthew • p15. Facilitating cooperation to bring aid to Haiti • p16. Information management - Dashboard: hurricane Matthew operation
Marjorie Jasmin/IFRC
Content
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Analysis of the situation (AS OF 18 october) Hurricane Matthew reached the eastern Caribbean and became a hurricane. Its peak intensity was late September 30 into early October 1 when it reached Category 5 strength. It made landfall in Haiti and Cuba as a Category 4. Following that, Matthew moved to the Bahamas as a Category 3 and 4 hurricane. Matthew was then declared a post-tropical cyclone by the National Hurricane Center. The affected countries were Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic and the United States.
AFFECTATION BY COUNTRY Bahamas • Main damages: floods (2 to 4 feet in some areas [0.6 to 1.2 metres]), downed trees, damaged roofs and electric and cable lines are down (fear that some lines might still be live), traffic lights are broken and affected livelihoods (farms). • Lots of stagnant water potential breeding sites (Zika is present in the Bahamas) Displaced
3,500
Buildings damaged
30
Buildings destroyed
25
Source: OCHA Sit Rep 7, CDEMA SitRep 10
Cuba • Hurricane Matthew was the strongest hurricane ever to hit Guantánamo Province. Maisí was the most-affected municipality. • Many municipalities in Guantánamo Province reported severe damages: In Baracoa, 90 per cent of the housing is damaged (about 73,000 people affected), in Yateras, there is damage to houses, telephone lines and businesses, in San Antonio Del Sur, about 1,020 people are affected and 255 houses damaged (63 demolished and 192 partially demolished); Holguín, a municipality of Moa, reports 600 people affected, damages to 143 houses, fallen trees, blocked roads and power lines down. • Crops were severely damaged in the municipalities of Imías, Baracoa, Maisí, Yateras and San Antonio del Sur (total population 176,000); the high percentage of older people living in the area would be particularly affected by food insecurity and nutrition issues that could result from the crop loss. • Floods and landslides may cause disease outbreaks, such as diarrhoea and dengue. • Needs pre-identified by the World Health Organization (WHO)/Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and national authorities (quantities and positions to be confirmed) include access to water to prevent epidemics or gastrointestinal diseases, vector control and management of arboviruses outbreaks, recovery from damage to stocks and infrastructure, water pumps and portable generators. Displaced
In shelter
Buildings damaged
Schools damaged
Schools destroyed
Hospital damaged
74,110 104
13,000 16
10,371
Buildings destroyed
1,826
2
Source: UNS SitRep 11 Cuba
Dominican Republic • Operation in the sectors of La Cañita, Transformadores, Barquita Norte, La Cucaracha, Los Reguindaos and la Lata in North Santo Domingo due to River Ozama’s rising water levels; area residents were evacuated to the homes of friends and family. Deceased
4
Source: IFRC Sit Rep 8 IFRC Sitrep 7
2
In shelter
903
Displaced
7,229
Buildings damaged
3,636
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Haiti Hurricane Matthew made landfall on southwestern Haiti as a category 4 storm – the strongest storm to hit the country in more than 50 years. The worst impacts have been reported in the southern departments of Sud, Grand Anse, Nippes, Sud-Est and Ouest, as well as Nord-Ouest on the country’s northern tip. These areas have a combined population of approximately one million people. The UN estimates that 350,000 people are in need of assistance, although detailed assessments have yet to be carried out, in part due to difficulties in accessing some of the worst affected areas. Total affected
2,128,708 In shelter
175,509
Deceased
473
Buildings damaged
25,160
Injured
339
Buildings destroyed
500
Missing
75
Schools damaged
240
Source: OCHA SitRep 9
The HRCS is working in collaboration with the government to further define areas of intervention. The HRCS will focus on the worst affected departments of Sud, Grand Anse, Nippes, Sud-est, Ouest and Nord-ouest. Even though comprehensive damage and needs assessment information is not yet available, health, WASH, shelter (including Household non-food items) and DRR have been identified as key needs based on the information of population density, vulnerability profile of at risk areas, experience from previous in-country operations, the HRCS areas of expertise and the Red Cross Red Crescent capacity in country. Jamaica • During the hurricane’s passage, the communities along the coastline were affected by storm surges. The National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) estimates that approximately 100,000 to 150,000 people could have been affected by the hurricane in the parishes of Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, Clarendon, and St. Ann. Total affected
150,000
Source: Jamaica Red Cross DREF
United States of America • Flood waters are starting to go down in North Carolina and South Carolina but major flooding is still occurring along some rivers. It may take another week for rivers to go below flood stage. • In Florida alone, officials estimate as many as 1,700 homes were destroyed or received major damage. Damage assessment is ongoing in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and with some areas still underwater, will take some time to complete. • U.S. officials are reporting damage of at least $10 billion, making Matthew the costliest hurricane since Sandy in 2012. • Overall, Matthew dumped 13.6 trillion gallons of water on the U.S., enough to fill the Rose Bowl 163,000 times. • The 14 inches that fell in Fayetteville, N.C., was the city’s rainiest single day on record. Deceased
34
In shelter
3,223
Source:PAHO SitRep14
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
RED CROSS ACTIONS (AS OF 18 october) Bahamas Red Cross • National Society conducted initial rapid assessment and more in-depth rapid assessment in the most affected communities. • National Society conducted a rescue mission and evacuated people and is providing support on shelter management to NEMA. Cuban Red Cross • The National Society has offered its assistance to the government and is rescuing people trapped in high-rise buildings. Dominican Red Cross • Disinfected the Tinacos Hospital’s cistern in the province of Barahona and sanitized the aqueduct that provides water to 270,000 people in Canoa, Vicente Noble and Bombita in the province of Barahona. Hatian Red Cross • As for now, relief and food distributions essentially have been made in North-West and South areas with support from the American Red Cross. • The Haitian Red Cross, with support from its partners, continues identifying affected people in the North-West, Nippes, South-East, Gonave and Grande-Anse areas. • In collaboration with ICRC, HRC offers family reunification services. Eleven volunteers were deployed and service hubs put in place in Les Cayes, Jeremie and Dame-Marie to help families searching for relatives. • An Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has been established at the Haitian Red Cross base camp in Port-au-Prince to offer a common working space for movement partners (HRC, IFRC,ICRC and PNSs) with presence of all services and sectors. • Launched an Emergency Appeal for 6.8 million CHF to assist 50,000 people affected by Hurricane Matthew for 12 months. Jamaica Red Cross • In order to support a request from the government, the Jamaica Red Cross, as an auxiliary to the public authorities, has strengthened its response system in the following parishes: Kingston and St. Andrew, St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary, St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. Ann, St. Elizabeth. • The National Society pre-positioned health, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion (WASH) and emergency shelter in their branches for the response to Hurricane Matthew. The JRC identified two priority areas for the intervention in support of the affected population: 1) water and sanitation; 2) shelter. • Launched a DREF for CHF 130,149 for 524 families (2,620 people) to replenish the Jamaica Red Cross’s stock used during the disaster response and to reimburse the National Society for the assessment costs it incurred. Saint Lucia Red Cross • The Saint Lucia Red Cross conducted a rapid needs assessment in the affected areas of Canaries, Anse la Raye, Bexon, Marc, Vieux Fort, Bocage, Ti Rocher, Corinth, Belle Air and Millet, with the support of 22 National Society volunteers, 5 staff members, 8 NITS, and 6 CDRT teams trained in community disaster response by the National Society under its current disaster risk reduction programme, which is funded by the American Red Cross. • The Saint Lucia Red Cross was able to respond immediately to supply non-food items (NFIs) to meet the immediate needs of 250 affected families because it received 2 pre-positioned Tropical Mobile Storage Units (TMSUs) stocked with NFIs, which was supported by the Japanese Red Cross Society under the Caribbean Pre-Positioning Project 2010 to 2011. • Launched a DREF for CHF 72,711 to ensure that the relief needs of the 250 most vulnerable families in communities around the island are met by the Saint Lucia Red Cross through the provision of NFIs particularly sleeping materials.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
American Red Cross • The Red Cross is helping thousands of people across four states still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. This widespread relief effort includes three-fourths of their vehicle fleet and more overnight stays in shelters than Superstorm Sandy. The Red Cross will be helping in the days and weeks to come long after flood waters finally start to go down. • More than 1,500 people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are still seeking refuge in 31 Red Cross and community shelters. • The Red Cross has mobilized almost 5,000 disaster workers, 235 response vehicles, 19 partner-supported kitchens as well as truckloads of water, ready-to-eat meals, cots, blankets, kitchen items, cleaning supplies and comfort kits, insect repellant, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, coolers and more. • As conditions permit, Red Cross response vehicles are circulating through the hardest-hit areas, delivering food and relief supplies. • Overall, Red Cross and community partners have served more than 931,000 meals and snacks, distributed more than 187,000 relief items, supported more than 19,000 health and mental health services, and provided 93,000 overnight stays in shelters. More information on affectation an Red Cross actions could be found in the Dashboard of the Operation
Nicole Robicheau/IFRC 5
HAITI
EMERGENCY OPERATION
Evaluation of a house affected by the hurricane in Cavailon Jethro Joseph Sérémé / AmericanRed Cross
RESPONSE
(AS OF 18 october)
The Haitian Red Cross will focus on the worst affected departments of Sud, Grand Anse, Nippes, Sudest, Ouest and Nord-ouest. Health, WASH, shelter (including Household non-food items) and DRR have been identified as key needs based on the information of population density, vulnerability profile of at risk areas, experience from previous in-country operations, the Haitian Red Cross areas of expertise and the Red Cross Red Crescent capacity in country.
LOGISTICS
HUMAN RESOURCES
# Flights
5
# Containers
4
Total tons.
199
Total HHRR deployed
49
82% Mob. table coverage
1 HeOps 12 IFRC Staff 19 ERU 8 FACT members 8 RIT members
13 National Societies deploying delegates
Read the Mobilization Table in the dashboard
EMERGENCY APPEAL Emergency Appeal seeks 6.8 million Swiss francs to enable the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the Haitian Red Cross Society (HRCS) to assist 50,000 people affected by Hurricane Matthew for 12 months. The response will focus on the following areas of intervention: Health; Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH); Shelter (including Household nonfood items) and Disaster risk reduction (DRR). The planned response reflects the current situation and information available at this time and will be adjusted based on further developments and more detailed assessments.
IFRC Appeal
ACTUAL COVERAGE (AS OF 18 october)
6.8 million Swiss francs
Total coverage 2,328,287 CHF Hard pledges
Timeframe
12 months To support
50,000 people
(including in kinds)
72%
2,591,024 CHF Soft pledges Existing gap
1,933,204 CHF Read the Emergency Plan of Action
HOW TO Support our response Promote our online campaign: https://www.ammado.com/community/haiti-hurricane/donate
For financial or other mechanisms of support: alejandra.vanhensbergen@ifrc.org
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
IFRC appeals for 6.8 million Swiss francs to assist Haitian communities devastated by Hurricane Matthew On 6 October, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched an emergency appeal for 6.8 million Swiss francs ($6.9 million) to provide medical, shelter, water and sanitation assistance to 50,000 people in the storm-ravaged southwest of Haiti. One of the strongest hurricane’s to hit the Caribbean in recent history, Matthew’s torrential rains and winds have flooded towns and roads, destroyed homes and buildings and collapsed the main bridge to the south, making the worst affected areas extremely difficult to reach. More than one million have been affected and hundreds of thousands are in need of humanitarian assistance. “This vulnerable nation has been hit again by a huge disaster that requires substantial international support,” says Ines Brill, IFRC head of delegation in the Latin Caribbean. “Our teams in Jeremie report massive destruction in the town. Water and electricity have been cut and the medical services are not functioning anymore. Communication is very limited. We are extremely concerned for the safety, health and well-being of the women, men and children who have been impacted, particularly those in remote towns and villages.” In the lead up to the storm, IFRC used its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund to support the Haitian Red Cross in pre-positioning emergency relief supplies, including plastic sheets, blankets, kitchen sets and water purification tablets, and mobilizing over 3,000 staff and volunteers in communities in the path of the hurricane. The emergency appeal will fund first aid and emergency health care, psychosocial support, treatment of water, sanitation assistance, cleaning and personal hygiene items, insecticide-treated mosquito nets and other disease prevention and control activities. The funding will also be used to help people with damaged or destroyed homes, providing them with materials and tools to build emergency shelter and make basic repairs to their houses. “After a major disaster like this, we know the need for clean water, emergency shelter, health care and adequate sanitation will be significant,” says Walter Cotte, IFRC’s regional Director for the Americas. “This appeal will ensure that the Red Cross can help meet those needs. With this appeals Haiti Red Cross will be able to exercise its auxiliary role supporting its government in the emergency response and recovery actions.” The Haiti Red Cross is coordinating relief efforts closely with the Haitian government and planning assessments to capture the full extent of damage and humanitarian need. Red Cross response teams in Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, the Bahamas and the United States have also been mobilized to provide assistance as the powerful storm tears through the region and moves north. To access the appeal click here and the appeals section of IFRC is available here http://adore.ifrc.org/Download.aspx?FileId=147574
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Monica Posada / IFRC
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Bahamas
Families evacuated during Hurricane Matthew
Lisa Pinder and Exanna Dormeus are part of the Bahamas Red Cross rescue team. Both participated in the rescue of six people during the impact of Hurricane Matthew, October 6 at dawn, when the eye of the hurricane hit Nassau, on New Providence Island. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), an agency that works as a Bahamas government cabinet and works closely with the National Society issued an emergency call to the Red Cross requesting support in the evacuation of a family that couldn´t take refuge before and saw their life was at risk as their was completely flooded. Exanna narrates that to evacuate a mother and her son to the home of relatives, they had to overcome almost impassable roads. This transport was carried out with the help of members of state security, which facilitated the operation. “Sometimes we did not know if we were driving on the road or if we were practically floating over water” tells Lisa, to which she adds “it was very difficult to stay stable on the road. There were people we met along the way that we also evacuated, especially elderly and children, who had seen their homes filled with nearly 10 cm of water and were afraid “ Both Lisa and Exanna shown calm as they tell their experience. They did not sleep until the eye of the storm moved away from the area and did not receive more emergency calls. At 9 am local time Bahamas on 7 October, the authorities reported the “all clear” to the population of the islands, leading to a lot of people going into the streets in search of food, gasoline or back to their homes to assess the damage. “Most people who we evacuated yesterday looked traumatized, in panic. People are usually reluctant to leave their homes in the pre-hurricane moment but after seeing their lives in danger, they were enormously grateful that we could provided relief”, calmly explains Exanna. The Bahamas Red Cross has provided psychosocial support in past situations of natural disasters and plans to do it again and continue offering basic food, water, clothing and cleaning supplies to the affected population. Lisa and Exanna will not hesitate for a moment to continue spending their time and dedication to improve and save the lives of their community. 9
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
No more homes to return to
Elmita Nodeis, at the Philippe Guerrier school turned evacuation centre in Les Cayes, Haiti. Nicole Robicheau/IFRC
“Everyone’s a victim in the south department. Everyone’s been affected by Matthew”
Elmita Nodeis sits on the ground in the courtyard of Philippe Guerrier school in the town of Les Cayes. The school has been turned into an evacuation centre since Hurricane Matthew hit, and she’s been sleeping there with eight members of her family ever since.
who ushered her and her family to the evacuation centre. “I went back to see my house and I was devastated when I saw it destroyed,” said Pauline. “Even my husband’s fishing boat is gone.”
The 51-year-old has a few buckets in front of her, and she’s busy scrubbing clothes.
Yesterday Red Cross volunteers worked with the World Food Program to register all 200 families living in the centre. Today they are back to distribute much needed food. Each family receives rice, beans and cooking oil, enough for just over a month. This is the first food distribution at the evacuation centre.
“My home has been destroyed, and I haven’t eaten since yesterday, so I started washing people’s clothes that live around here for a bit of money,” said Elmita. She was in her home when the hurricane hit. “I was sleeping and I thought I was dreaming that someone was telling me, ‘come quick, come quick’. And then I woke up and my house was being destroyed by the storm, so I ran out,” Elmita said. Twenty-two-year-old Yvette Smith and her family are sheltering in a classroom at the centre with 19 other families.
In the coming days and weeks, the Red Cross will continue to deliver food, water, relief items and shelter kits to affected families and support them as they recover. “Everyone’s a victim in the south department. Everyone’s been affected by Matthew,” says Yvette Fenelon, Haitian Red Cross president, south west department.
“Our house was destroyed and we lost all of our things. Then the Red Cross came to get us and brought us here,” said Yvette. There are no mattresses at the school, so everyone, including Yvette’s 83-year-old grandmother, sleep on the concrete floor. Her grandmother has been using a cane ever since she was injured in the earthquake in 2010. Forty-one-year-old Pauline Divert wasn’t in her home when the hurricane hit thanks to Red Cross volunteers
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Yvette and her grandmother in their room at the Philippe Guerrier evacuation centre. There are no mattresses and they’re sleeping on the concrete floor. Nicole Robicheau/IFRC
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Nicole Robicheau/IFRC
Coastal communities struggling to recover from Matthew The view along the coastal road from Les Cayes in southwestern Haiti is dramatically changed since Hurricane Matthew tore through the area one week ago. Not much remains of the towns and villages along the ocean. Downed coconut trees are everywhere and the banana trees that many people depend on to make a living are largely gone. In the town of Port Salut, Jean Marie Delva and Rose Yvette Dorismon sit outside the local hospital. They lost their home and have been living on the street since the hurricane. Their son fractured his ankle during the mayhem, and can’t walk. They’ve come to see if anyone can help him. The hospital used to see about one hundred patients a day, but since the hurricane that number has increased to 150 daily and they have treated more than 150 injuries caused by the hurricane. Further down the coast in Côteaux, Caleb Raphael and his wife Loudy Roberson sit on their neighbours’ porch. They point to piles of clothes, books and broken furniture. This used to be where their house was. “We weren’t able to salvage anything,” says Caleb. She’s a schoolteacher and he’s a driver but there’s no work right now, so they’re struggling to get food. Across the street from where their house used to stand is the local health centre. Since the earthquake it’s doubling as an evacuation centre. Andre Diefort waits to see a doctor. Something fell on him during the hurricane a week ago, but he only managed to come today because he lives in the community of Despas, which isn’t close by. He had to take a 30 minute motorcycle taxi ride. “Other people are hurt in my community also from the hurricane, but it’s difficult for people to get here,” says Andre. Mandy Chantale, Haitian Red Cross coordinator in Côteaux, says the needs are enormous. “There is an urgent need for clean water, sanitation, food, shelter and access to medical assistance and other services.”
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
American Red Cross
Response Efforts Continue in Areas Affected by Hurricane Matthew The American Red Cross is still helping people impacted by Hurricane Matthew more than a week ago, providing shelter, food, relief supplies and hope across four states. Matthew also continues to impact blood collections in the southeast, leading to a nationwide urgent need for blood and donations. Thousands of people across four states are still dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, and the Red Cross is helping. More than 1,500 people in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida are still seeking refuge in 31 Red Cross and community shelters. This widespread relief effort includes three-fourths of our vehicle fleet and more overnight stays in shelters than Superstorm Sandy. The Red Cross has mobilized almost 5,000 disaster workers, 235 response vehicles, 19 partner-supported kitchens as well as truckloads of water, ready-to-eat meals, cots, blankets, kitchen items, cleaning supplies and comfort kits, insect repellant, gloves, masks, shovels, rakes, coolers and more. As conditions permit, Red Cross response vehicles are circulating through the hardest-hit areas, delivering food and relief supplies. Overall, Red Cross and community partners have served more than 931,000 meals and snacks, distributed more than 187,000 relief items, supported more than 19,000 health and mental health services, and provided 93,000 overnight stays in shelters. Flood waters are starting to go down in North Carolina and South Carolina but major flooding is still occurring along some rivers. It may take another week for rivers to go below flood stage. In Florida alone, officials estimate as many as 1,700 homes were destroyed or received major damage. Damage assessment is ongoing in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina and with some areas still underwater, will take some time to complete. U.S. officials are reporting damage of at least $10 billion, making Matthew the costliest hurricane since Sandy in 2012. Overall, Matthew dumped 13.6 trillion gallons of water on the U.S., enough to fill the Rose Bowl 163,000 times. The 14 inches that fell in Fayetteville, N.C., was the city’s rainiest single day on record. The Red Cross is working in close collaboration with government officials and community partners to coordinate response efforts to ensure people receive the help they need as quickly as possible.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
IFRC
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Red Cross Red Crescent relief items amongst first to arrive in Haiti More than 100 tonnes of relief items despatched by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and member National Red Cross Societies are among the first to have arrived in Port-au-Prince over the past week, bringing essential humanitarian assistance to people affected by the fierce Hurricane Matthew. Three cargo planes have transported essential relief to Haiti items including tarpaulins, emergency shelter kits, hygiene kits, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, jerry cans and other relief items. “Within days of the storm passing, Haiti Red Cross volunteers were in communities distributing pre-positioned supplies such as blankets, tarpaulins, water purification tablets and hygiene kits,” said Steve McAndrew, IFRC Head of Emergency Operations. “Haiti Red Cross volunteers are now distributing newly arrived items - including in remote areas in Les Cayes and Jérémie – including items to help prevent the spread of cholera such as water purification tablets, chlorine solution and hygiene kits.” “One of the biggest challenges right now is accessing remote areas which can only be reached by helicopter or boat. Red Cross volunteers are taking with them as many essential items as possible, and often need they have to walk for kilometres to reach remote communities,” added Mr McAndrew. “Our past experience in Haiti has shown us that the key to recovery is working with local people to deliver long-lasting aid and support. With its strong community links and track record in disaster management, Haiti Red Cross is delivering desperately needed support to the many women, children and men whose lives have been shattered by the hurricane.”
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Red Cross team cleaning eight-year-old Misslove’s wounds that she received from being picked up and thrown in the air by the wind during hurricane Matthew. Nicole Robicheau/IFRC
Health problems on the rise in Haiti after Hurricane Matthew A convoy of five Red Cross cars makes its way from the town of Les Cayes in the southern part of the southwest of Haiti up to the northern coast to the town of Jérémie. Somewhere in the middle of the journey in Plaine Martin, the team stops to get information on reconstruction materials. A crowd of people gathers around the car. “We see cars go by, but you are the first people to stop here,” someone says. With almost everyone in the region affected, aid agencies try to get to prioritize the most vulnerable people first, making it so that many people feel like aid hasn’t been coming to them. Jolanne Destinée shows her eight-year-old daughter’s injuries to Haitian Red Cross staff Chantal Pitaud. She has open wounds on her head, elbow, and leg. “The wind was so strong, it picked her up and threw her,” says Destinée. More than a week after the hurricane, her wounds are starting to get infected. “It costs money to take her to the hospital and I have no money for this,” says Destinée. She and her ten children are staying in a church that’s been turned into an evacuation centre since their house was destroyed. Red Cross volunteers clean her wounds with antiseptic cream. Once they’re done, Loriez Batiste shows them the wound on her face. “My head has been hurting because I fell on my face during the hurricane,” says Batiste. The team cleans her wounds and gives her pain medication before continuing the journey.
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International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Voices of America • Special: Hurricane Matthew // October 2016
Fear of cholera spreading Infections from injuries sustained in the hurricane aren’t the only health concern Haiti is facing. Cholera cases are on the rise, although there is currently no testing being done to confirm cases, making this challenging to quantify. At the Port Salut hospital in the south department, the director of the local hospital Desrabires Stevenson says there are currently 14 suspected cholera cases at the hospital. Prior to the hurricane, they hadn’t seen any cases in the previous four to six months. “We are missing the supplies we need to treat patients, we have no chlorine right now to disinfect,” says Stevenson. Most health centres and hospitals in the area had small cholera treatment centres set up in the back capable of treating cases should they arise. As the structures weren’t as solid as hospital structures, most of these have been destroyed. This is the case at the health dispensary in Roche-a-Bateaux. All that remains is the roof that’s flat on the ground, and a separate smaller building housing the toilet. At the Port-a-Piment hospital further west along the coast, Haitian Red Cross volunteers distribute 69 cholera kits to be given to suspected cholera patients as they’re discharged from the hospital. These kits have everything people need to disinfect their homes and have safe water to drink, such as water purification tablets and soap. The Red Cross is working hard to ensure that health needs of those affected by Hurricane Matthew are met. Hygiene promotion experts are being brought in to the country as well as systems to purify water. The Red Cross also has additional teams on standby ready to be sent out rapidly to set up a cholera treatment centre if needed.
Facilitating cooperation to bring aid to Haiti The Haitian Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), at the request of the Haitian Ministry of Health, have facilitated the mobilization of a group of Cuban doctors who have come to Haiti to support the actions of response and recovery after Hurricane Matthew devastated the southern region of the country. A team of 29 doctors and four nurses arrived to Haiti on Friday and with the support of the IFRC, were deployed in Jeremi and Anse s’Hainault, to give support to the Hatian Ministry of Health in its health care actions for the affected populations. Inés Brill, Coordinator of Latin Caribbean Cluster for the Americas Regional Office of the IFRC said, “the Red Cross in compliance with its auxiliary role of the powers of the State has the mandated to facilitate cooperation and coordination of actions during emergencies, in this way we responded to a request from the Haitian government to enable these medical personnel to bring help to those in need”.
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communication INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
DASHBOARD: HURRICANE MATTHEW OPERATION The Americas regional office of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies with the support of the American Red Cross regional delegation created an online platform to manage information regarding the hurricane matthew response. A team works in compiling, sistematizing and uploading vital information for it to be accessible and updated for all Red Cross Red Crescent teams and partners involved in the response. You can access the dashboard here
SUGGESTED LINKS www.ifrc.org @ifrc_es @ifrc_es IFRC IFRC RADIO SHOW
VOICES OF AMERICA Thursday 2:00 PM (spanish)
http://www.amcross.org/radio.html
 Contact information
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Americas Regional Office Diana Medina, Communications Manager | diana.medina@ifrc.org Diana Arroyo, Senior Communications Officer | diana.arroyo@ifrc.org