Hurricane Dennis

In agreement with the CIC, the ACT CO deployed a CAT mission to assist the Cuban Council of Churches in:

• Assessing the needs and information gathering aimed at formulating an appropriate program plan and budget to respond to the crisis and rehabilitation needs in the country.
• Defining a system and processes within the CIC to deal with the reception, distribution and recording of the in-kind donations to be received
• Defining a system and processes within the CIC to ensure proper reporting on the ACT appeal
• Information sharing with the ACT CO and the rest of the Alliance
• Developing initiatives to increase interest in the Cuba situation within the Alliance.

The current damages registered in the province are the following: 42,000 homes were affected, 15,000 of these totally destroyed (67% in Pilón and Niquero), 12,000 homes are without roofs and 76 without water tanks (24 in Niquero). In the health sector, 17 pharmacies, 130 medical clinics and 5 hospitals were affected by the hurricane. In the commercial and productive area damages included: 283 tourist rental houses, 7,155 hectares of food sources (60,000 MT²), 670 hectares of coffee, 1,809 hectares of fruit tress and 10,900 honey production hives. Other damages registered: 24 Mini hydroelectric systems, 389 schools (29 totally destroyed), 251 basic services units. 700 families still remain in state shelters and 56,000 at relatives or friends homes.

So far the government has approved the rebuilding of 4,000 homes and provided material to repair 7,000 roofs. Architects and engineers are currently carrying out feasibility studies, as in some of the areas affected the families will have to be relocated.

CIC coordination with regional and local governments was discussed. It is the government’s role to channel donations for aid and projects. However, there is a good working relationship and co-ordination between CIC and the authorities and CIC will be able to select beneficiaries from a government list, as well as distribute, monitor and evaluate with local government officials implementation of the CIC proposal. It is customary to have the terms of agreements with signatures of involved parties for transparency and co-ordination.

Difficulties faced by CIC in the preparation of the LACU 51 appeal:

• Staff changes and responsibilities - the previous emergency co-ordinator was outside the country.

• Local and Provincial government still collecting data – the plan of action not yet fully determined.

• Electricity – there are shortages and cuts in Havana every day.

• Communication - both internal and external.

• Lack of timely participation from local church leaders and regional staff.

• Transportation - CIC fleet of vehicles are old and dilapidated.

• No clear understanding of ACT appeal and alert process.

• CLAI program and WCC General Secretary were visiting during the time of the crisis

• Vacation period in Cuba

• There are needs in the post crisis phase

• House construction
• Psychosocial attention

• Capacity building and training for CIC central and regional staff, regional (territorial) co-ordinators, church pastors and leaders, members of CIC (i.e. MLK and the Center of Reflection and Dialogue Program). Training on ACT and Sphere Project are also needed. Preference to have training workshop in October, 2005

• To revise the LACU 51 appeal accordingly

• Six month and final evaluation should be accompanied by the ACT Alliance. A process to accompany and strengthen CIC emergency program.

• CIC should restructure the emergency program/committee and internal co-ordination mechanism

• CIC to define terms of agreement and relationship with local, provincial and central government offices.

• MINVEC has given the green light to ACT and will facilitate the co-ordination of the shipment. The donated items will all be duty free and MINVEC will cover the in-county transportation from Havana to Granma if they provide that service.

The ACT CO has received the proposal for the revision of the appeal and is processing it. The target of the appeal will be around U$880,000 and components include relief items, reconstruction of houses, psychosocial activities and disaster response capacity building activities.