1. Hurricane Irma Response
Regional Institutional Updates The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Has activated their Disaster Management Plans and are monitoring their systems. They have sent requests to staff to support regional deployment teams. Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Has provided Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) with 150, USD to support logistical work and initial damage assessment. CDB will provide emergency response grants (ERG) to participating countries. Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) Indicated that they have been in touch with the heads of the National Water and Sanitation Companies in the threatened countries and have offered their support to conduct assessments and repairs to damaged water systems. Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Indicated that they are actively monitoring the hurricane. Technical staff can be made available to support assessments in affected countries. Allen M. Chastanet, Prime Minister of St. Lucia, requested that information on assessments be made available to aid in activating support mechanisms in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Stands ready to assist the Regional Response Mechanism (RRM) by providing support to the security forces. CARICOM is able to facilitate a discussion between the RRM and the Regional Military Chiefs of Staffs in reference to their support to regional response and relief operations post Hurricane Irma. Regional Security System (RSS) CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), Barbados Coast Guard, and the RSS air staff have been placed on standby support operations. Caribbean Development Fund (CDF) Indicated that a Disaster Assistance Facility of $ USD is available to support response and relief operations to impacted countries. There is flexibility to increase this amount based on the severity and complexity of the impact. They are depending on the RRM to provide reliable damage assessment reports in order to access these funds.
United Nations (UN) Agencies
Pan American Health organization (PAHO)
Pre-deployed consultants to Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and Bahamas. There are three staff members stationed in Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla and in St Kitts/Nevis. The Washington office has been monitoring and providing updates. PAHO have been in contact with the countries’ Ministries of Health Disaster Coordinators and indicated teams are on standby and the areas of focus include coordination, logistics, water and sanitation.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
Stated that they have several staff members in Barbados who can join the assessment teams if requested. UNDP’s New York and Panama Offices are fully engaged.
United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Have health kits, as well as dignity and hygiene kits available for deployment. Stated that they have been in discussions with NGO’s to support any identified needs.
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Surge capacity from Latin America and the Caribbean are on standby, with one team member arriving in Barbados today to support Rapid Assessment. UNICEF has water purification tablets in Barbados with additional water items in Panama. Consideration will be given to providing technical support for the operation of desalination plants. UNICEF has supplies pre-positioned in Barbados and Antigua and that they will work with PAHO to provide psycho-social support
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination has been mobilized and the first member arrived in Barbados Wednesday and two more are expected to arrive by Thursday. They also deployed two additional staff members to Haiti to support the logistics team.
Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA)
Have pre-deployed personnel in multiple countries. A Disaster Risk Management Specialist (DRMS) is in St. Kitts at along with three surge consultants. A DRMS is covering Antigua and Barbuda along with two local surge consultants.
International Institutions Updates: European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) Deploying an Emergency Response and Resilience Coordinator to the Dominican Republic in addition to the coordinator already located in Haiti. Global Affairs Canada (GAC) Confirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to the provision of 2 airport specialists. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) The Americas office in Trinidad has been fully activated. Surge capacities have been identified and will be traveling to Trinidad. Indicated that they are in close communication with their overseas territories. The IFRC has a team on standby in Haiti and that international funds will soon be requested for the Dominican Republic as well as the pre-positioning of personnel. United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) Royal Fleet Auxiliary Ship Mounts Bay is positioned in region in support of the British Overseas Territories and any other country in need of assistance.
Many agencies have declared their willingness and ability to provide aid to countries desperately in need. However, delivering aid to Barbuda will be difficult. While there have been no reports on the functionality of the airport, all indicators point to it being inoperable. This would mean the only ways to deliver aid and assistance to Barbuda is by boat or helicopter. The distance between Barbuda and Antigua is approximately 40 miles (straight line distance). If aid is delivered by boat, this could prove to be a serious issue if Hurricane Jose stays on the same trajectory as Irma since it is only a few days behind.