CDEMA sends response teams into Haiti, Bahamas

The Barbados-based Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) says it is deploying specialised response teams to Haiti and the Bahamas as the region assesses the damage caused by the powerful Hurricane Matthew this week.

 

Hurricane Matthew lashed the Bahamas, with widespread flooding, forcing residents to flee their homes, damaging structures and downing trees and power lines. There were no immediate reports of deaths.

 

However in Haiti, where the death toll has climbed to almost 300, thousands of people remain in shelters and many others are still unaccounted for as search and rescue teams comb areas earlier inaccessible, as a result of the damage caused by the most powerful storm to hit the region since 2007.

 

The Civil Protection Directorate (CPD) in Haiti has reported that after a preliminary assessment an estimated 21, 102 persons remain in shelters and over 2516 houses have been severely damaged.

 

CDEMA said that both Bahamas and Haiti “suffered severe impact” from the passage of Hurricane Matthew that is now affecting Florida in the United States.

 

The Barbados-based agency said it will be assisting Bahamas and Haiti in dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane, and is deploying a six-member CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) to Haiti on Friday.

 

"This team will support Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) coordination in Jérémie and Les Cayes; two settlements most affected by Hurricane Matthew. The team will be led by retired Brigadier General Earl Arthurs and supported by technical personnel from CDEMA participating states.”

 

CDEMA said that three Rapid Needs Assessment Teams (RNATs) will also be deployed to The Bahamas on Friday and “will facilitate damage assessments and needs analysis in Andros, Grand Bahama and New Providence Islands.

 

A Hurricane Warning remains in effect for North-Western Bahamas, including the Abacos, Andros Island, Berry Islands, Bimini, Eleuthera, Grand Bahama Island, and New Providence. The Bahamas government has discontinued the Hurricane Warning for Central Bahamas.

Meanwhile, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the United Nations World Health Organisation (WHO) are sending teams to the Caribbean.

 

PAHO said that only nine of the 15 hotels in Haiti are currently operating, and one, LesCayes Hospital in Sud Department, has been evacuated to a functioning facility. Only five of the hospitals are reachable by phone.

 

PAHO said it has deployed 11 Regional Response Team experts to support technical activities in four affected countries: Haiti, Jamaica, Cuba and the Bahamas.

 

PAHO said it has already seen 28 500 cases of cholera in Haiti so far this year, and it working closely with the Ministry of Health to identify areas of high risk as a result of the passage of the storm.

 

Since October 2010, Haiti has reported more than 790 000 cases of cholera and more than 9 300 deaths.

 

In the Bahamas, PAHO said it deployed three experts in water and sanitation and health coordination, and is completing a readiness assessment of clinics.

 

PAHO also said experts were identified to support the Turks and Caicos for post-hurricane rapid assessment.