Hurricane Ivan

Jamaica

Four parishes were visited, namely Westmoreland, Clarendon and St. Thomas and the inner cities of Kingston. As per the UNDAC data a total of 11,678 houses have been destroyed partially or fully. Since roofs have been destroyed, due to the torrential rain, people have lost their bedding and mattresses and do not have safe place to sleep. 53 health centres/hospitals and 21 schools have been partially or full destroyed. 19,396 persons immediately require food. There are evidences of widespread shortage of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. There is a shortage of adequate medical services in many parishes. It is reported that the incidence of gastro-intestinal and diarrhoeal disorders is increasing. Infrastructure: There is severe infrastructure damage in many places. It has been reported by Jamaica Public Service Company, that there are 1300 damaged poles and over 100 damaged transformers. Due to the landslides, roads have been completely or partially destroyed in some parishes. St. Thomas has severe infrastructure loss and it was difficult for the CAID assessment team to visit the affected places in St. Thomas. Due to this, some villages still cannot be accessed. Livelihoods: Livelihoods have been fully destroyed both in the urban and rural areas. 80- 100 per cent destruction has been observed in the agricultural sector.

Proposed assistance: Though different humanitarian agencies and government agencies and other private organisations are trying to help the victims of the hurricane, many of the rural areas and some parts of the inner city of Kingston require immediate assistance. The overall goal of the proposed programme is to ensure survival, development and protection rights of the victims of Hurricane Ivan. Christian Aid is the lead agency, on behalf of ACT network, in implementing this programme.

Beneficiaries:
Food distribution: 2000 families
Provision of shelter: 500-600 families
Health and hygiene promotion: 500-1000 families
Provision of mattresses: 600 families
Provision of livelihood support for 400-500 families in urban and rural areas

Community capacity building and advocating for the rights of the hurricane affected families. CAID will be supporting one partner for immediate relief needs and two partners for the livelihood programmes. One partner will take the lead role in carrying out capacity building programme on behalf of all the partners.

Targeted areas: St Tomas parish (through The Women’s Outreach Centre, WROC) Inner cities of Kingston (through St Patrick’s Foundation and S-Corner)

Estimated Budget: US$ 130,000

Grenada

While detailed needs assessments are still being conducted, it is clear that there has been serious damage to property, crops and livestock on the large part of the Island. Thousands of people have been displaced by the damage and even more have been indirectly affected. As people remain in temporary shelters and begin to repair or rebuild their homes and their lives, priority needs identified by government and by organisations on the ground are the clearing of land, food, resettlement and shelter items, temporary schooling for primary and secondary students, and the need for agricultural inputs in the form of either seeds and tools for immediate sowing of the next crop as well as livestock rebuilding.

Proposed assistance: The project aims to assist vulnerable individuals and families. It will address immediate relief and food security needs through the implementation of a small cash for work programme aimed at the clearing of debris, providing support to displaced families by repairing rural dwellings through provision of basic materials, addressing livelihood needs through the distribution of chickens (complementary to seeds and tools programmes being implemented by other agencies) and building temporary structures to provide immediate schooling for children aged 5-11 years.

Beneficiaries:
Housing: direct 100 homes - 400 persons
Chicken rearing: direct 30 community groups - 450 (15 per group)
Education: direct 5 communities - 200 children
Clearance: direct 12 communities - 8,000
Total direct beneficiaries: 8,000

Targeted Areas: St. Mark's, St. Patrick's and St. John's parishes (through Grenada Community Development Organisation - GRENCONDIA)
St Georges, St. David’s and St. Andrews (through ART – the Agency for Rural Transformation)

Estimated Budget: US$ 280,000  

An ACT Appeal is in process for an estimated target of US$410,000.

The ACT CO would appreciate any indications of possible support from funding members.