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Last Updated: Jan 14th, 2010 - 18:13:48 |
MESSAGE: 7.0 HAITI EARTHQUAKE
UPDATE #3 CDEMA Coordinating Pledges of Aid for Haiti
THE EVENT:
A magnitude 7.0 earthquake located 18.451°N, 72.445°W struck the island of Haiti
on Tuesday January 12th, 2010 at about 5:53 PM Atlantic Standard Time (AST).
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck
15 km (10 miles) South West of Port-au-Prince at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).
Aftershocks are still being felt.
Reports indicate that there has been extensive damage to Port-au-Prince and
causalities may be in excess of 100,000 and hence an urgent need for search and
rescue support. It is estimated that approximately three (3) million people
have been affected.
CDEMA has initiated a level three (3) response based on preliminary reports on
the extent of devastation in Haiti. This level of activation is initiated in
cases where disasters overwhelm the capacity of the affected state(s) to
respond. It is the highest level of activation by CDEMA and triggers the
Regional Response Mechanism.
PROGNOSIS:
There remains a continuing threat from aftershocks resulting in collapse of
damaged structures and the possibility of landslides.
THE SITUATION:
Current preliminary information indicates that there has been wide spread damage
in Port Au Prince. Hospitals, government agencies and international
organizations buildings are among the buildings that have been damaged or
destroyed.
Communication:
CDEMA has established contact with the Department of Civil Protection in Haiti
who are regrouping and mobilising resources. HAM Radio communication with Haiti
has been achieved with some success though limited and is being monitored.
Utilities:
Utilities including water, electricity and telephone services have been
disrupted and communication remains a challenge.
Health:
Hospitals and health facilities have been severely affected. The main hospital
in Port-au-Prince has collapsed and two (2) hospitals have been destroyed. PAHO
has indicated that immediate health priorities include: search and rescue of
survivors trapped underneath rubble; treatment of people with major trauma
injuries; preventing the infection of wounds; provision of clean water;
sanitation; and ensuring breast-feeding is continued.
Accessibility:
The airport is open to day time flights only. Both sea ports have been damaged.
There have been reports of extensive damage to roads
Regional Response Actions - Departing from Barbados today is a regional high powered delegation
including the CARICOM Secretary General Edwin Carrington; Chairman of
CARICOM, Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica; Prime
Minister of Barbados, the Honourable David Thompson; Mr. Jeremy Collymore,
Executive Director, CDEMA; Mr. Grantley Watson, the Regional Security
Coordinator, RSS, and the Vice President Operations Caribbean Development
Bank, Mr. P. Desmond Brunton departed Barbados this evening to meet with
Hon. Bruce Golding in Jamaica on Thursday January 14. The delegation will
travel to Haiti tomorrow Friday January 15, 2010 to gather data to further
inform the nature and scope of the region’s assistance.
- The Regional Security System and Search and Rescue teams remain on
standby.
- A technical team comprising representatives from the CARICOM
Secretariat, CDEMA, UWI, IMPACS (the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime
and Security) and the Regional Security System (RSS) will be deployed to
Haiti on Friday January 15, 2010 to support the political team and carry out
the initial assessment. The team will seek :
- To express solidarity with the Government and people of Haiti at
this time of need.
- To assure the Government and people of Haiti of the region’s
commitment to support the Haiti response efforts in a tangible and
effective manner.
- To establish an initial picture of the Government of Haiti’s
priority response and recovery needs.
- To conduct an initial assessment of the earthquake impact and
identify priority needs.
- To initially define how the CARICOM region’s response can be best
articulated for a tangible and effective response from the region.
- To identify logistical arrangements such as transportation,
accommodation and other arrangements for receiving incoming humanitarian
supplies and personnel, being deployed from the region.
- To determine the way forward for CARICOM support especially in the
area of law enforcement and maintenance of public order.
- CDEMA is working with international and regional carriers to coordinate
the securing of pledges and aid distribution to Haiti.
- CDEMA has also defined operational scenarios to inform the scope and
framework of the CARICOM interventions.
- CDEMA continues to receive pledges from donors and partners.
- Suriname has pledges to provide military and police personnel for
Haiti. They are currently filling a four (4) feet container with drinking
water, blankets and rice to provide assistance in the initial stages.
- The CDEMA Coordinating Unit also met with the British High Commission in
Barbados to discuss the situation in Haiti and to examine issues surrounding
the response efforts. The Department for International Development deployed
a five (5) member technical team which is expected to arrive in Haiti
today. The team includes four (4) technical experts from the United Kingdom
and Mr. Roger Bellers previously deployed on Tuesday. DFID and CDEMA have
agreed to liaise on the ground in Haiti for a coordinated response.
- Today the CDEMA Coordinating Unit discussed the response efforts for
Haiti with the Australian High Commission. The Government of Australia has
pledged AUS$10 million for the Haitian Response AUS$1 million of which will
be chandelled through CDEMA. CDEMA has already initiated arrangements to
access these funds.
- The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) will deploy Mr. Phillip
Cross, the Caribbean Representative of the ITU who will deliver satellite
phones to various organizations to assist in addressing some of the
communication challenges being experienced.Action by Partners and CDEMA Non
Participating States:
The International Federation of Red Cross has launched an appeal for US $10
million in cash, kind, or services to support the Haitian National Red Cross
Society to assist 20, 000 families (100,000 beneficiaries) for nine months.
CONTACT DETAILS: The CDEMA CU 24-hour contact number is 1(246) 425 0386
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