VZCZCXRO1950
PP RUEHGR
DE RUEHKG #1298/01 2401217
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 281217Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY KINGSTON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5249
RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE PRIORITY 1934
RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0497
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 0280
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0112
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J5 MIAMI FL
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM J4 MIAMI FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KINGSTON 001298 
 
SIPDIS 
 
AIDAC 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT ALSO PASS TO USAID/W 
USAID/W FOR A/AID HFORE 
LAC/AA FOR PBONICELLI 
DCHA/AA FOR MHESS, GGOTTLIEB 
DCHA/OFDA FOR KLUU, AFERRARA, ACONVERY, RTHAYER, SBISWAS 
STATE FOR WHA, CA, DS/IP/WHA, A, M/DGHR, PM, SMS, SES/O, 
TASKFORCE DEAN, CMS 
WHA/CAR FOR BMAJEWSKI, KHARNE, RBUDDEN 
DS/IP/SPC FOR JSPOO 
USSOUTHCOM FOR BVANICO 
SAN JOSE FOR TCALLAGHAN 
GENEVA FOR NKYLOH, RMA 
USUN FOR TMALEY 
NSC FOR PMARCHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: AEMR ASEC CASC KFLO MARR PREL PHUM
EAID, PINR, AMGT, MX, CU, XL, XK, JM 
 
SUBJECT: USAID SITUATION REPORT 4 HURRICANE DEAN 
 
REFS: A) KINGSTON 1292 B) KINGSTON 1274 C) KINGSTON 1290 
 
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SUMMARY 
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¶1.  As of August 24, aid agencies continue to focus on 
emergency response activities, such as distribution of 
food, water, and relief supplies, to hurricane-affected 
communities.  The Government of Jamaica's (GOJ) Office 
of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management 
(ODPEM) continues to facilitate damage assessments to 
the affected areas, conduct food drops to cut-off 
communities, coordinate distribution of relief items 
with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and UN 
agencies, and communicate with other GOJ agencies to 
monitor progress on resumption of electrical and water 
supply systems throughout the island.  On August 24, the 
major donors to Jamaica held a coordination meeting 
where assistance levels and plans were shared.  The 
donors, including USAID, believe that most of the 
immediate needs for relief supplies have been met 
through recent airlifts of supplies by several donor 
organizations.  However, the donors noted that 
additional funding for reconstruction and livelihood 
activities is needed to ensure quick recovery.  End 
Summary. 
 
¶2.  This cable summarizes responses to the devastation 
caused by Hurricane Dean, as of August 24. 
 
----------------- 
Current Situation 
----------------- 
 
¶3.  The current situation in Jamaica remains in the 
relief phase.  As of August 24, 1,188 people remain in 
52 shelters and four deaths have been confirmed, 
according to ODPEM.  An estimated 3,127 houses have 
sustained damage, according to rapid assessments 
conducted the week of August 20.  Aid agencies have 
reported that many families have already begun to repair 
damaged roofs and homes on their own.  Water and 
electricity systems have not yet been brought back 
online.  Currently, only 34 percent of the regular 
customers are receiving electricity, impacting the 
availability of water as many water pumps depend on 
electricity and do not have a generator back-up.  Damage 
assessments led by ODPEM are ongoing, and distribution 
of food, water, and relief supplies has begun to the 
most affected areas. 
 
-------------- 
ODPEM Response 
-------------- 
 
¶4.  Several communities remain cut-off to humanitarian 
organizations, necessitating food drops in at least five 
communities, as of August 24.  ODPEM has organized food 
drops to Somerset, Mansfield, Tower Hill, Lime Tree, and 
Spring Bank.  Many of these areas are located in 
Portland Parish, which was one of the first areas to be 
hit by Hurricane Dean. 
 
¶5.  ODPEM dispatched three water tanks to Portland 
Cottage, and distributed relief items in Old Harbour Bay 
in Saint Catherine Parish and Clarendon Parish.  ODPEM 
 
KINGSTON 00001298  002 OF 004 
 
 
is coordinating transportation, warehousing, and 
distribution of emergency relief commodities. 
 
¶6.  ODPEM continues to focus on compilation of damage 
assessment information, the latest of which was detailed 
in REF A. 
 
------------------------------ 
NGO and UN Response Activities 
------------------------------ 
 
¶7.  On August 24, the Jamaican Red Cross (JRC) reported 
that relief teams had distributed emergency supplies in 
Manchester, Clarendon, Saint Andrew, Saint Catherine, 
Saint Thomas, and Portland parishes, covering most of 
the worst affected areas.  The JRC has distributed 
relief supplies, including food, blankets, hygiene kits, 
tarpaulins, water, clothing, kitchen sets, and 
mattresses, that were prepositioned at branch offices in 
each of the parishes.  The food package included flour, 
rice, tin cans of meat and vegetables, milk, sugar, and 
cornmeal, and lasts a family of five for nearly one 
week.  The JRC teams have distributed food, water, and 
clothing in Old Harbour Bay, one of the communities that 
suffered the most damage from Hurricane Dean.  The JRC 
is also providing psychosocial assistance to traumatized 
people.  On August 24, the JRC expects to receive 
additional relief supplies from the International 
Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and plans to 
inventory the supplies available and identify additional 
needs. 
 
¶8.  The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) is providing four 
emergency health kits that cover the basic needs of 
1,000 people for three months and 2,000 ten-liter water 
containers to the Ministry of Health (MOH).  UNICEF is 
also providing 2,000 food packages that last for two 
weeks and 5,000 bottles of water to the Rural Family 
Support Organization and JRC.  UNICEF is also 
implementing education, child protection, and early 
education programs in affected areas. 
 
¶9.  The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is 
assisting the MOH with vector control chemicals and 
equipment.  PAHO has two water and sanitation officers 
on the ground monitoring the situation and providing 
technical assistance to the MOH and other relief 
agencies.  In addition, PAHO is conducting epidemiology 
and communicable disease surveillance at shelters.  PAHO 
also plans to conduct an engineering assessment of 
damage to hospitals, particularly Bellevue Hospital. 
USAID is supporting these activities, in collaboration 
with other donors. 
 
¶10.  The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is planning to 
provide 35 reproductive health kits that serve 1,200 
people for clean and clinical delivery.  UNFPA is also 
providing JRC and the local community development 
association with hygiene kits in Old Harbour Bay. 
 
¶11.  The UN World Food Program (WFP) is proposing to 
provide a one-week supply of high energy biscuits for 
food drops to 2,200 people in cut-off communities, as 
well as 2,000 people living in shelters. 
 
------------------------------- 
Donor Coordination and Response 
 
KINGSTON 00001298  003 OF 004 
 
 
------------------------------- 
 
¶12.  The Canadian International Development Agency 
(CIDA) has pledged 2 million Canadian dollars, or nearly 
USD 1.9 million, to support the humanitarian response in 
Jamaica.  With this, CIDA is supporting repairs to 
health facilities, school repairs, water and sanitation 
activities, and transportation and other logistical 
needs.  On August 23, an airlift of relief supplies 
arrived with 4,992 four-liter buckets, 10,560 20-liter 
water containers, and 3,250 tarpaulins measuring 4x6 
meters. 
 
¶13.  The Humanitarian Aid Department of the European 
Commission (ECHO) has pledged 3 million Euros, or more 
than USD 4 million, to respond to the regional impact of 
Hurricane Dean.  ECHO intends to support NGO 
livelihoods, repair, and water, sanitation, and hygiene 
activities in St. Lucia, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, and 
Belize.  In Jamaica, ECHO plans to focus on repairing 
homes, as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene 
interventions. 
 
¶14.  The UK Department for International Development 
(DFID) may support 10 percent of the IFRC appeal in 
Jamaica.  DFID is also considering supporting needs 
identified by ODPEM. 
 
¶15.  The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation 
(AECI) airlifted shelter-oriented relief supplies to 
Jamaica on August 24.  The airlift included 15 to 20 
tents, 1,000 tarpaulins, 1,000 collapsible water 
containers, and 1,000 floor mats.  In addition, the 
Spanish aid agency is facilitating a private sector 
package of relief supplies to JRC.  The association 
plans to fund reconstruction activities as well. 
 
¶16.  In an August 24 donor coordination meeting attended 
by an OFDA Regional Advisor, funding plans and other 
response activities were discussed.  The donor group 
concluded that much of the humanitarian needs will be 
covered by the activities already underway.  However, 
the donors noted that reconstruction and livelihood 
programs will need additional funding from the 
international donors.  Examples of development programs 
that will need to be supported include agricultural 
inputs and technical assistance to farmers to jump-start 
production.  In many schools pit latrines were flooding 
and other sanitation facilities were damaged during the 
storm and need to be repaired quickly to ensure proper 
sanitation services are provided to students.  In 
addition, health facilities sustained damage and are in 
need of critical repairs.  Per REF A, malaria continues 
to be a major concern and needs medium- to long-term 
programming. 
 
-------------- 
USAID Response 
-------------- 
 
¶17.  In addition to the USAID's Office of U.S. Foreign 
Disaster Assistance (OFDA) support for health response 
activities and procurement and distribution of relief 
supplies as detailed in REF A, USAID/Jamaica is 
exploring a potential expansion of development 
programming in the severely affected agriculture, 
education, and health sectors.  USAID/Jamaica believes 
 
KINGSTON 00001298  004 OF 004 
 
 
that critical interventions to recover from the impact 
of Hurricane Dean include repairs to schools and health 
facilities that are not covered by GOJ or international 
donors. 
 
¶18.  The OFDA team in Jamaica will stand down on August 
¶25.  An OFDA Regional Advisor based in Costa Rica will 
continue to coordinate closely with donors, implementing 
partners, ODPEM, and USAID/Jamaica on response 
activities.  An OFDA consultant based in Jamaica will 
also continue to participate in damage assessments, 
coordinate distribution of relief supplies, and monitor 
implementation of OFDA-funded activities.  This is the 
last daily situation report cable from USAID on the 
impact of Hurricane Dean in Jamaica. 
 
HEG