1. IMPACT REPORT: HURRICANE IRMA
2017 SEP
IMPACT REPORT: HURRICANE IRMA
(U) Humanitarian Aid and Assistance underway post Hurricane Irma and post Hurricane Jose.
(U) OVERVIEW:
Humanitarian aid and assistance to the islands and territories affected by Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Jose are finding success as inclement weather and inoperable conditions wane. Affected countries are receiving monetary aid, basic food and shelter needs, hygiene needs, clean up and infrastructure assessments and projects. Airports, roads, clean up and port terminals are the main infrastructure objectives in order to allow the greatest capacity of services and aid.
As of 13 September, OCHA reported that Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, St Martin/St Maarten, the British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos are the most affected islands and that there is continuous assessment of critical needs in supplies and support. In the East Caribbean islands, which first bore the brunt of the Category 5 hurricane, the greatest damage has been recorded in Anguilla, Barbuda, the Virgin Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Some 73,000 people, including 20,000 children, are affected in this area and at least 132 schools have been damaged.
(U) ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS:
Humanitarian partners continue to work and coordination with regional organizations and local governments throughout the affected countries as needs assessments continue to reveal the range and depth of the needs caused by Irma. Security issues regarding looters, infrastructure damage, and inaccessibility to hospitals and services remain high on the priority list of the local governments. Susceptibility to diseases is more prevalent after catastrophic disasters involving stagnant water and hygiene. Survivors face airborne and close proximity health concerns due to the conditions of camps and lack of resources.
These concerns are priorities for Humanitarian Aids workers on the ground, who are continuing their assessments of needs for areas that are already dire in conditions. The UN children’s agency also cautioned that the number of children in need could rise with damage assessments still underway in the hardest-hit areas of Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Anguilla, Barbuda, the Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos Islands.

2. Current Events/News Updates
Aid to Affected Countries/Islands
COUNTRY
Current Events/News Updates
Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands (VIPR)
PRNG is collecting and distributing donation across municipalities, and conducting supply deliveries to municipalities across PR, shelter support, and route clearance.
St Martin/Sint Maarten & St Barthélemy
On September 12, nine USAID regional Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) staff arrived on the island of St. Martin to assess hurricane-related damages and coordinate USG response efforts.
In coordination with the Government of France (GoF), the Govenrment of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (GoKN), and the U.S. DoD, USAID/OFDA is working to provide critical humanitarian assistance to hurricane-affected populations. To this date, it has provided a combined $200,000 to address urgent humanitarian needs on the island.
DoD is supporting USAID/OFDA efforts to provide emergency assistance through the transport of humanitarian personnel, relief supplies, and other critical logistics.
Belgian First Aid and Support Team is scheduled to travel to Sint Maarten imminently to support Dutch humanitarian response operations.
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saba, St Lucia, St Eustatius
The Cabinet has mandated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to continue its outreach to regional and international governments to better coordinate relief efforts.
Dominican Republic
Spain has committed the disbursement of 80,000 euros of emergency aid to meet the most pressing needs of some of the countries affected (30,000 Dominican Republic).
•Department for International Development (DFID) Field Teams have been sent to the British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, Turks and Caicos, Antigua, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.
approximately 175,000 people were affected by the hurricane, including 62,000 children.
Bahamas
USAID DART continues to coordinate USG hurricane response efforts in the Bahamas.
DART staff continue to evaluate the priority needs of hurricane-affected households and meet with response stakeholders- including host country officials, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) representatives, and USAID/OFDA partners.
UN World Food Program (WFP) plans to establish two sub-regional hubs to manage its emergency food response in the Caribbean region, including a hub in Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) to support the Bahamas and TCI.
GoB announced plans to transport Ragged Island’s remaining inhabitants to New Providence Island by September 13.
Two USAID/OFDA staff arrived in Nassau, Bahamas on September 11. The team is meeting with staff at NEMA and at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau to discuss response efforts and to prepare for planned airlifts of USAID/OFDA commodities due to arrive in the Bahamas in the coming days.
USAID/OFDA is supporting the Bahamas Red Cross Society (BRCS) to provide emergency relief items to approximately 3,000 hurricane-affected Bahamians. USAID/OFDA has provided $100,000 to BRCS.
Panama & Barbados, Saint Thomas
Needed medical supplies have been identified by the health authorities of affected islands, and medical and other supplies are being prepositioned in Panama and Barbados for rapid distribution by PAHO
USTRANSCOM is moving U.S. Army medical support capability to St. Thomas to establish temporary medical facilities there.

3. Humanitarian Response
COUNTRY
Humanitarian Response
Antigua & Barbuda
Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GoAB) and the UN. Humanitarian organizations, including USAID/OFDA partner the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Society (ABRCS) are providing humanitarian assistance to evacuated Barbudans sheltering on Antigua island.
The UN World Food Program (WFP) plans to establish one of tow sub-regional hubs to manage its emergency food response in the Caribbean region.
In coordination with the GoAB Directorate of Gender Affairs, the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has distributed approximately 320 dignity kits, containing basic health and hygiene products—to women and girls evacuated from Barbuda.
UNICEF had identified up to 100 unaccompanied children who evacuated from Barbuda to Antigua and are receiving care, giving services through the GoAB Ministry of Social Transformation and Human Resource Development.
USAID/OFDA has provided $100,000 to the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Society (ABRCS) to assist approximately 1,000 hurricane affected people in Antigua and Barbuda.
Spain has committed the disbursement of 80,000 euros of emergency aid to meet the most pressing needs of some of the countries affected (10,000 Antigua and Barbuda).
Haiti
Members of the Belgian First Aid and Support Team, initially deployed to the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) coordination center in Haiti, is scheduled to travel to Sint Maarten imminently to support Dutch humanitarian response operations.
SOS Haiti is working with partner organizations to review rain and wind damage caused in the country’s northeast, around communities such as Aviation and Port St. Michel, where SOS Children’s Village has families in strengthening programs. An estimated 1,600 people in the area are living in shelters because of water and wind damage to their homes.
Spain has committed the disbursement of 80,000 euros of emergency aid to meet the most pressing needs of some of the countries affected (30,000 Haiti).
60 metric tons of fortified biscuits were shipped from the United Nations Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai to Haiti.
16 municipalities in the North, Northwest and Centre of the country were hit particularly hard and some areas are partially flooded.
Nearly 2 million children who live in the most affected provinces are at risk in a country that is still recovering from Hurricane Matthew which devastated Haiti less than a year ago.
Cuba
Mainly the Government of Cuba is providing emergency response. The National Council and the Provincial and National Councils of Civil Defense remain activated.
Cuban Red Cross is given full support to the authorities in emergency response and continues to do so during evaluation stage. Red Cross volunteers continue to support evacuation centers, although in some provinces people are starting to return to their homes. In these communities, the Red Cross will assist in community clean up campaigns, hygiene, sanitation and water management.
IFRC continues stands ready to support if the need arises.
Irma caused serious damage in 13 island provinces and flooding in some of the major cities such as Havana, Guantanamo and Holguin.
Telecommunications, electricity and water services have been severely compromised in the affected areas. 900,000 people, including 360,000 children, are in danger.

4. Humanitarian Response
COUNTRY
Humanitarian Response
British Virgin Islands
50 British police officers were sent to help deal with looting
The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit will transfer British Marines in St. Croix forward to the British Virgin Islands.
Five (5) tons of relief supplies from Antigua were delivered to the Jost Van Dyke island of the BVI today with the support of the CDRU
Anguilla
Sector Needs Assessment is currently being conducted to prioritize restoration efforts.
The Valley National Emergency Operations Centre Warehouse adjacent to the Police Station is now the designated point for persons to receive aid.
Medical team from the Cayman Islands will be flying in to assist and provide medical supplies.
Blowing Point Port – non-operational & assessment ongoing
Sandy Ground - Road Bay Port in Sandy Ground is functional to receive cargo
Clayton J Lloyd International Airport is currently operational for Charters and emergencies
CARICOM Disaster Assessment and Coordination (CDAC) team, was deployed
Assessments for shelter structure are being conducted. Relief distribution has resumed. Tourism sector is seriously damaged.
Air transportation from Antigua and Anguilla is now available via Caribbean Helicopter.
Turks and Caicos Islands
USNORTHCOM and U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) are coordinating the movement of British Royal Marines to Antigua and Turks & Caicos Islands.
The Governor declared the island a disaster area
Rapid Assessment indicates that damage is about 60%
Fire at prison contained
Evacuation of South Caicos planned to Provo (2000 persons)
PAHO technical expert in conducted preliminary assessments in Provincials.
CDEMA has assigned five Damage and Needs Assessment Teams (32 persons) to Turks and Caicos Islands.