Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
This situation report is based on information received from, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) in the affected countries, the Regional Office in Panama and the National Hurricane Centre.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Honduras and Guatemala are experiencing an intense
rainy season, surpassing the precipitation levels
generated by Hurricane Mitch ten years ago.
- The Flash Appeal for Honduras is only 10% funded
and urgent support is required as some 322,000
persons are still in need of humanitarian
assistance.
- In Guatemala, the number of affected persons has
reached 180,000. Donors are encouraged to respond to
the appeal for assistance by the Government of
Guatemala launched on 3 November.
SITUATION
1. Tropical Depression No. 16 made landfall in
northern Honduras on 16 October and has been slowly
crossing over Central America causing heavy rains
from northern Costa Rica to south-eastern Mexico.
The system affected the countries of Costa Rica,
Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and
Guatemala with heavy rains which led to flooding and
mudslides. In addition to a cold front over the
region, tropical depression 17, then Paloma, has
formed last week and has further affected Honduras.
HONDURAS
2. Due to a series of meteorological events
(Tropical Depression 16, low depression and swell),
the Government of Honduras had declared a state of
emergency on 19 October and formally requested
humanitarian assistance on 20 October. In view of
Tropical Depression 17, COPECO had declared the Red
Alert in the Departments of Cabo de Gracias de Dios,
in the North of Olancho, in the oriental part of
Colon, as well as in the municipalities of Corquin,
Cucuyagua, Copan, Belen Gualcho, in Ocotepeque.
3. As the soil is already saturated, notably also as
a result of a cold front over Honduras and
additional rains, the humanitarian situation is
constantly evolving. The Resident Coordinator has
reporting that the number of persons affected has
increased to 320,000, with over 70,000 in need of
shelter. Sixty persons lost their lives. The number
of persons in need of food assistance is also
increasing and some 50,000 persons could not be
accessed as they remain in isolated communities.
Some 100,000 of the affected populations have no
access to safe drinking water, of which 35,000 are
children. Approximately 51,000 children are not
attending schools, as around 300 schools are used as
shelters. Some 233 education centres have no
electricity or water and need to be repaired.
4. COPECO is coordinating relief activities and
continues its distribution of humanitarian aid to
all those affected due to the heavy rains. Shelter,
food and water and sanitation, as well as
rehabilitation of houses and agriculture are a
priority. Public health is an area of concern as
wells were contaminated due to landslides. Malaria
and cholera are endemic in the region however no
outbreaks were reported. Gastrointestinal diseases
and acute respiratory infections are also a concern.
Psychosocial support is required especially for
children. Early recovery will also be needed to
generate economic activities in the affected areas
and rebuild houses. For those previously affected,
returns are difficult as the population often finds
their homes flooded or in need of rehabilitation.
Hence the situation in shelters remains very fluid.
5. The Government is preparing a recovery and
rehabilitation plan that has been developed, taking
into account the support on early recovery requested
under the Flash Appeal.
6. The Flash Appeal is requesting USD 17 million to
urgently assist those affected with food, health,
shelter, water and sanitation, education and early
recovery assistance for the next six months. It is
only 10% funded, including funds received from the
CERF (USD 1,501,344).
7. UNICEF assistance for this emergency totals USD
716,000. WFP delivered more than 370 MT of food aid
to assist nearly 16,000 of the most vulnerable
families living in shelters in isolated areas. In
coordination with the National Authorities, WFP has
provided food to affected population with a 50 MT of
food aid already prepositioned. So far 3,482
families have received a 10 days ration of food
assistance.
8. WHO is reprogramming regular funds in order to
mobilize medical teams and to purchase emergency and
general medicines. PAHO/WHO has also mobilized
regional experts in water and sanitation, disaster
management and the SUMA deployment. UNFPA is working
with the Ministry of Health. Christian Aid is
carrying out emergency relief in Honduras. IOM is
carrying out distributions of NFIs in shelters to
improve shelters conditions and on resttelments with
the Governement. IOM, UNICEF and WHO will carry out
psycho social support programmes for the vulnerable
groups affected by the floods.
9. OCHA Regional Office in Panama has deployed its
Disaster Response Advisor to assist the UNDAC team
in its hand over and on coordination issues as the
Team departed on 7 November. The Joint UNEP/OCHA
Environment Unit, in cooperation with the Swedish
Rescue Services Agency, has deployed a team of
geologists to Honduras to start cooperating with the
authorities in identifying risk zones from land- and
mudslides. The risk of further death and injury from
landslides is high, following the saturation of
slopes caused by the heavy rains .This deployment
follows a recommendation from the UNDAC team, as a
subsequent request from the competent authorities
(COPECO). The team will work closely with UNDP and
COPECO and will make on-site recommendations to the
authorities on mitigation measures.
10. The Resident Coordinator is working towards
formalizing a Humanitarian Country Team. IOM has
dispatched an expert in shelter; BCPR, FAO, WFP,
UNICEF and UNDP sent technical personnel, while UNDP
has provided USD 150,000 in cash contribution.
GUATEMALA
11. In Guatemala, according to the CONRED, more than
15 days of consecutive rains as a result of Tropical
Depression 16 have claimed the lives of 17 persons,
affected 30,000 families (or 180,000 persons) ,
destroyed 67,000 hectares of land, contaminated many
wells and inflicted serious damage to the
infrastructure. Approximately 10,674 families are in
shelter; 38 schools, 73 bridges, 70 roads and 6
health centres have been affected. The effects of
Tropical Depression 16 have affected the whole
country, with Alta Verapaz, El Peten, Izabal, and
Quiche, the most directly impacted. Some 27
municipalities in these departments were declared
under a State of emergency. The departments and
their affected counties are among the poorest of the
country, with a human development index (HDI) lower
than the national average. The population
predominantly lives in rural areas, with high
percentages of indigenous population, and limited
access to basic social services. Rains affected 57%
of the national territory. Some communities remain
inaccessible.
12. The affected area is the principal producer of
basic grains in Guatemala, mainly producing corn,
rice, bean, and large banana plantations. According
to the Ministry of Agriculture some 67,119 hectare
were damaged with an approximated loss of Quetzals
19,336,344 (USD 2,613,019.00). In the month of May,
with the beginning of the rainy season, more than
65% of the production was lost due to flooding. With
Tropical Depression No. 16, more than 80% of the
production of basic grains of the second crop was
lost. As a result, the affected population will not
have enough food for the next three months and a
rise in food prices is expected, worsening the
chronic food insecurity in Guatemala. The damage to
infrastructure, with 2,000 roads affected, and
health centers equipment is affecting the capability
to care for the needs of the affected population.
13. The President Alvaro Colom has assigned
approximately USD 6.5 million to respond to the
crisis. The Vice President has requested
international assistance on 3 November (see
http://www.conred.org.gt) amounting to Quetzals 500
million (or USD 66 million) for water and
sanitation, health, protection (psychological
support), agriculture and early recovery. The
priority needs are for water and sanitation, health,
food security and nutrition, protection of the
vulnerable population (psychological support and
protection of women and children) and rehabilitation
of the agriculture sector. Various NFIs such as
cooking kits, clothes, mattresses, household items
and agricultural utensils and tools are needed.
14. The CONRED is mobilizing its immediate response
teams in the various affected municipalities and is
coordinating the response. The ministries of Health,
Public Works and Agriculture are assessing the
damages and the financial costs in the affected
areas. The humanitarian partners are closely
coordinating with the Government at the central and
local levels. UN and NGOs Assessments team are
carrying out aerial joint assessments on 3 and 4
November. Sectoral tables are working well according
to the Humanitarian Network Contingency Plan
(Health, WASH, Food security and nutrition,
Protection). A CERF application was prepared by the
UN and partners through the Humanitarian Network
(IASC Country team) and is being reviewed by the
Emergency Relief Coordinator. WFP has already
delivered 80 MT of food covering 22,000 families.
The Humanitarian network, including NGOs such as
Mercy Corps, CARE, CRS, OXFAM, Save the Children as
well as the Red Cross are distributing relief items
in the affected areas while carrying out additional
damage assessments. Regular coordination meetings
are held with all partners and donors. The Spanish
Cooperation Agency AECDI has allocated EURO 50,000
to respond to the Government appeal.
