OCHA Situation Report No. 14
Hurricane Ivan - Grenada
23 September 2004


Situation

1. According to the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination 
(UNDAC) team in Grenada, there is a general sense of day-to-day activities 
slowly getting back to normal, with increasing number of banks, public 
services, shops and a very limited number of restaurants and hotels, 
particularly in the capital starting their activities. People started 
repairing their roofs and houses. However, power has not been restored, 
except for ministries and hospitals. Clean up activities proceed, in 
particular in the parish of St. Georges. Curfew has been lifted except for 
the Parishes of Georges and St. Davis.

2. Water supply continues to be regularized, but still some access 
problems persist. There still exist great difficulties in distributing 
food and relief supplies due to the lack of logistical capacity, 
particularly transport. Consultations for better coordination among actors 
and planning are underway.

3. According to the assessment conducted by the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO), erosion is a main concern, since most of tree coverage 
on the island was almost completely wiped out. This also means an 
additional risk of landslides as the rainy/hurricane season progresses.


Needs

4. The following is the relief items urgently required:

-25,000 mattresses
-50,000 blankets
-50,000 sheets
-15,000 tents
-16 generators (5, 10, 15 kva)
-6,600 family kitchen sets
-500 latrines
-5 rub halls (100' x 40' x 15')
-3,000 carpenter's hammers
-Nails (2" - 4")
-5,000 transistor radios (wind-up)


National Response

5. The National Emergency Relief Organisation (NERO) now issues a one-page 
public information bulletin, distributed among the affected population.

6. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and NERO is 
setting up storage facilities at Pearls Airport, assisted by the UNDAC 
team. This airport, located on the northeastern coast of the island, will 
be used as a distribution point of relief supplies for the northern part 
of the country.

7. One-week distribution plans for relief supplies have been developed by 
the national authorities at main distribution centers. The UNDAC team is 
assisting the elaboration of the plan in terms of public information, 
methods of distribution, coordination with other actors and logistics.


International Response

Infrastructure 8. The Venezuelan contingent has been supporting relief 
operations with 130 military and 16 civil defense members, providing 
assistance in repairing of the prison and schools in coordination with the 
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Trinidad and Tobago 
contingent.

Food Distribution, Water and Sanitation 9. The Trinidad and Tobago 
contingent took charge of food distribution with two distribution points, 
Pearls and Gonave, as well as shelters, security operations, restoration 
of water and sewage systems. They are also providing generators to pump 
water as well as technical assistance in the restoration of electricity 
cables and pole, and in the restoration of land based telecommunications. 
The contingent have so far provided 8 tons of water, 25.5 tons food, 2 
tons of medicines and 8 tons of construction material for the purpose of 
repairing prison.

10. Oxfam is concentrating its activities on water, water management and 
water quality. It is presently cooperating with the International 
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) regarding water 
storage equipment.


Education

11. UNICEF continues its activities in the area of rehabilitation of 
schools and psychosocial support. Its action is now concentrated in St 
Georges' around its 19 schools in order to create minimal conditions for 
the school year to start.


Health

12. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) presented a 
Comprehensive Appeal for Health Emergency Needs on 15 September. In 
response to this appeal, support was pledged from the United Kingdom 
(Department of International Development/DFID), Canada (Canadian 
International Development Agency/CIDA) and the United States (Office of 
the US Foreign Disaster Assistance/OFDA).


Agriculture

13. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) expert is conducting an 
assessment for short- and mid-term. The situation is critical both at the 
level of agriculture but also fishery with many fishermen in need of 
urgent support.


Food Security

14. World food Programme (WFP) has completed its assessment of food 
security.


Relief Supplies

15. IFRC started the distribution of 10,000 family kits of food and 
plastic sheeting. This operation is targeting all parishes and takes place 
on a daily basis for a period of two weeks, followed by another 
distribution campaign with water purification tablets and hygiene kits. 
The food packages are intended to last for a period between two to four 
weeks. IFRC is also providing to water bladders and 10,000 jerry cans to 
Oxfam.

16. USAID/OFDA continues to support the relief effort by providing plastic 
sheeting, as well logistic support in distribution operations.


Communications

17. A team of Telecommunications Without Borders has established free 
international communications at the NERO Emergency Operations Center, 
including Internet connections. They are now conducting assessments in 
different locations of the country to offer this service to communities.


Flash Appeal

18. On 24 September, the United Nations Resident Coordinator will launch a 
Flash Appeal in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Appeal intends to respond to 
urgent and immediate needs, for the next six months, of the population of 
Grenada, and to establish the basis for the rehabilitation of social 
services and economic recovery.


Assessment of Reconstruction Needs

19. Multidisciplinary assessment mission (Organization of Eastern 
Caribbean States/OECS, Caribbean Central Bank and the Economic Commission 
for Latin America /ECLAC) on reconstruction started its activities on 20 
September. It will assess the socio-economic damages caused by this 
disaster in the areas of, infrastructure, environment, health and 
productive sectors.

20. OCHA is in close contact with the United Nations Resident 
Coordinator's Office in Barbados and will revert with further information 
as it becomes available.

21. This situation report, together with more detailed information on 
contributions and other ongoing emergencies, is also available on the OCHA 
Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only:
Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
   Mr. Erik Haegglund
   E-mail: haegglund@un.org
   Direct Tel. +41-22-917 3299

   Ms. Masayo Kondo
   E-mail: kondo@un.org
   Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1977

Press contact:
   GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs direct Tel. +41-22-917 2653
   NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker direct Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

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