Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 1 Situation Report 3 Tropical Storm Olga DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 20 DECEMBER 2007

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1 Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 1 Situation Report 3 Tropical Storm Olga DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 20 DECEMBER 2007 This situation report is based on information received from the United Nations Resident Coordinators in country and OCHA Regional Office in Panama. HIGHLIGHTS Some 62,000 people displaced. Some 14, 000 continue in shelters President of the Republic allocates 1.5 billion Pesos to address emergency and reconstruction needs. Flash Appeal launched in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Noel being revised to address additional needs following tropical Olga SITUATION National Emergency Commission (CNE in Spanish) Report #10 People killed 33. People unaccounted for Displaced people Affected houses Activated shelters Isolated communities 0. Tempor. shelters...13,908 With relatives and friends...47,697 TOTAL...61,605 Slightly affected...10,052 Severely affected...1,899 Destroyed TOTAL...12, The Emergency Operations Centre (COE) is maintaining a red alert for Santiago, Duarte (especially Bajo Yuna), Montecristi, Valverde- Mao, María Trinidad Sánchez, Samaná, La Vega, Sánchez Ramírez, and a red alert for the provinces of Santo Domingo, El Distrito Nacional, San Cristóbal, Monte Plata, Santiago Rodríguez, La Altagracia, Dajabón, San Pedro de Macorís, Espaillat, Azua and San Juan de la Maguana. 2. Alerts have been discontinued for Monseñor Nouel, Puerto Plata, Hermanas Mirabal (Salcedo), El Seibo La Romana, Hato Mayor (particulary for Sabana de la Mar), Peravia, San José de Ocoa, Pedernales, Independencia and Barahona. IMPACT Health, water and sanitation 2. WHO/PAHO has informed that the drinking water deficit in Santiago continues with the population using, in some areas, non-treated water from the Yaque s River. Waste management problems have also been reported in some temporary shelters. Food security and nutrition 3. In the municipality of Villa González (Santiago) a big number of chicken and pork farms have been severely affected as well as many bananas plantations. There is also an increase of prices in the main markets of the Distrito Nacional, particularly of agricultural products, and chicken and pork meat. Shelters

2 4. Planning is ongoing to re-locate approximately, 9,000 vulnerable families, which are in a critical situation vis-à-vis natural phenomena. Recent damage assessments in Santiago show that 2,500 houses were been affected, of which 600 beyond repair. In Nagua, some six thousand people have been evacuated and are now in 15 temporary shelters, due the overflowing of the Yuna River. Infrastructure 5. In Santiago, water and power supply are being re-established. The Santiago Aqueducts Corporation, (Coraasan) is still facing a deficit of 35 million gallons of water due to damages to water treatment plants. It will take approximately six weeks to reestablish full service supply. 6. The National Water and Drainage Institute, (INAPA in Spanish) informs that 23 aqueducts continue off service. In Mao, drinking water is still scarce. The National Hydraulic Resources Institute (INDRHI in Spanish) revealed that 11 irrigation canals, 23 hydraulic systems and contention walls are still non-operational. In the province of Montecristi, most of the electrical system has collapsed. Priority needs 7. Health, water and sanitation Drinking water; family and community water storage;. Water treatment plants; Diapers for babies and adults; Portable latrines; trash cans of different sizes; Medicines and vaccines. 8. Food Security Food for children (3 year old or less) ); Food for adults in shelters. 9. Shelters Kitchen utensils; Furniture. Mattresses. Mosquito nets;. Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 2 Sheets; Cleaning equipment for shelters and affected houses; Psycho-social support. NATIONAL RESPONSE 10. The President of the Republic has announced 1.5 billion pesos (approximately US$ 45 million) to address the damage caused by the overflowing of the Yaque River y established a commission, which should present a set of recommendations regarding assistance measures to be undertaken. 11. The President has also announced the construction of 150 prefabricated houses for those affected by Tropical Storms Noel and Olga in the Arenoso region. Other prefabricated houses will be built in Villa Riva, with the works schedule to start in January with duration of three months. According to a preliminary plan elaborated by the Government in the aftermath of Topical storm Noel, the construction of 588 houses is ongoing: 438 in San Cristóbal, and 150 in Villa Altagracia. Other 1,400 houses are also planned for the areas of La Vega, Bonao, Cotuí, and Manoguayabo. 12. The local authorities in Santiago have informed that the total damage caused by tropical storm Olga amounts at some 1.5 billion Pesos (approximately US$ 45 million). 13. The Presidency Social Plan has informed that some 34 million Pesos (US$ 1.1. million) have been allocated to the Province of Duarte to address the damage caused by Tropical Storms Noel and Olga. 14. The State Department for Public Health and Social Support (SESPAS) will continue for some weeks with the epidemiologic surveillance system to avoid diseases caused by the flooding. Medical teams also continue with fumigation activities in the affected areas and the distribution of medical supplies. Until now, they have distributed 23 mil tablets against leptospirosis.

3 15. The Dominican Armed Forces, will make available 600 troops to assist in cleaning operations and disease prevention campaigns. 16. The State Department for Education has reported that no damages have been registered in the education infrastructure in the flooded areas. National resources mobilized (cash) Institution Amount (USD) Contribution Dominican Government USD3,000,000 Food 17. National resources mobilized (in-kind) Instituti on Presiden cy Social Plan Presiden cy Social Plan Sector Type of Contribution Quantity Food Food supplies 75,000 rations Shelter Mattresses sheets, mosquito nets, refrigerators, stoves and water agua. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE 18. International resources mobilized (cash) Institution Amount (USD) Type of contribution UN Agencies UNICEF USD206,000 Ireland contribution Bilateral Taiwan USD300,000 Reconstruction and rehabilitation of La Barquita Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 3 Instituti Sector on UN Agencies WHO/P AHOPS Health Food/ UNICEF Hygien Multilateral Italian Hygien Coopera e tion and /Healt the h IFRC Quantity United Nations System 20 latrines for shelters. 13 boxes of water purification tablets (50,000 tablets p/box) 50 medicine kits Two water purification tablets boxes (to address needs in the temporary shelters of Arenoso, Villa Rivas y Hostos) Transportation of medicines 300 boxes with food and hygiene supplies 1,000 hygiene kits 1,000 Kitchen sets 3,000 mosquito nets Health, water and sanitation 20. WHO/PAHO, has been assisting SESPAS and the Provincial health authorities in the establishment of a Situation Room in Santiago. WHO/PAHO continues to provide assistance through the mobilization of local staff and international consultants and, specifically, helping in the health and sanitation management of shelters. 21. UNFPA and the Dominican health authorities have carried out assessments in the provinces of Santiago, Valverde-Mao y Montecristi and have visited several areas affected by tropical Storm Olga as well as temporary shelters; UNFPA is also assisting by providing hygiene and cleaning equipment as well as equipment and medical supplies targeting reproductive health in the provinces of Mao y Montecristi and Santiago. 19. International resources mobilized (in-kind) Food security and nutrition 22. FAO has also visited the Southwestern regions affected and where it had some emergency projects following tropical Storm Noel. The findings showed damages to agriculture as well as to irrigation canals in the Province of Peravia

4 23. UNICEF has started the distribution of food packages and hygiene items in Castañuelas and Montecristi. In addition, it has received from the Government of Ireland a contribution of US$206,000 for the relief activities in the most affected areas. Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 4 Coordination 24. UN agencies have been conducting field assessments and coordination meetings with national and local authorities. The areas visited include Santiago, La Vega, Mao, Montecristi and Bajo Yuna. 25. The UN Disaster Management Team have presented a CERF proposal and revised version of the Flash Appeal that had been launched in the aftermath of tropical storm Noel. 26. This situation report, together with further information regarding on-going emergencies, is also available on the Reliefweb: For detailed information please contact:

5 Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 5 Contact Details Desk Officer (New York) Ms. Heidi Kuttab Office Tel: Office Fax: kuttab@un.org GCMS (Geneva) OCHA Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean Ms. Aoibheann O Keeffe Mr. Douglas Reimer Regional Disaster Response Adviser Office Tel: okeeffe@un.org Office Tel Office Fax Mobile: reimer@un.org Press Contact: (New York) Ms. Stephanie Bunker Office Tel : Office Fax: bunker@un.org (Geneva) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs Office Tel Office Fax byrs@un.org

6 Tropical Storm Olga Dominican Republic Situation Report No.2 Page 6. NTERNATIONAL RESPONSE