USAID-DCHA Haiti Hurricane Fact Sheet #4 11/10/2010

Grand Anse Department registered the highest number of deaths, with eight fatalities. The storm severely affected the agriculture sector, with estimates of damage to agricultural land ranging between 70 and 90 percent in Grand Anse Department. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the storm affected the agriculture sector most severely, with winds and rains flooding fields, destroying crops, and injuring livestock. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) began conducting a nationwide assessment of agricultural damage on November 8. USAID continues to follow the situation closely to ascertain the hurricane's medium- to long-term impact on food security. Humanitarian agencies in Haiti met post-hurricane emergency needs through existing capacity, according to the USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). The DART coordinated U.S. Government hurricane preparedness and response activities in Haiti, working closely with regional joint operations centers coordinated by OCHA and the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) to monitor and report on the situation throughout the country. The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) prioritized resumption of its regular programs, including school meals, nutrition for mothers and young children, and cash- and food-for-work (CFW and FFW) projects. WFP distributed 15.5 metric tons of high-energy biscuits and more than 54,200 ready-to-eat meals to over 18,500 hurricane-affected people as of November 9. USAID Office of Food for Peace (USAID/FFP) partners also distributed meals ready to eat (MREs) and dry rations to affected communities. The storm damaged 5,000 tents and destroyed an additional 1,200 others countrywide, according to the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) cluster. IOM reported that 94 of the 120 IOM/DPC-managed camps sustained some damage, and IOM will provide assistance as needed in these sites. The CCCM cluster will identify partners to distribute shelter materials to households in need. The U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security provided support to the humanitarian response, including helicopter assessment flights in six of ten departments in Haiti. Prior to the arrival of Hurricane Tomas, the Government of Haiti Ministry of Health and Health Cluster partners discussed storm preparedness for cholera treatment centers located in tents and developed plans to transfer patients to permanent structures if needed.