Hurricane Dennis,
a category IV hurricane, struck Haiti on 7 July and proceeded to lash
Cuba between 7 - 9 July causing heavy rains and flooding in both Haiti
and Cuba. Eleven people lost their lives in Haiti and ten in Cuba.
Hurricane Dennis then continued to Jamaica where it caused heavy landslides.
The country most
severely affected was Cuba, where the Hurricane devastated
11 provinces and caused the evacuation of 1.5 million people. According
to the latest reports 120,000 homes were affected to different degrees.
Agricultural production has suffered such severe and comprehensive
damage that it has resulted in an immediate and direct impact on the
food security of the country. It is estimated that the recovery process
will take a long time. This is the fourth year in a row that Cuba
has been seriously hit by hurricanes.
In Haiti,
heavy rain flooded the southern parts of the country and 1,000 were
evacuated. It is estimated that 15,000 people in Haiti were affected
by Hurricane Dennis.
ACT member in
Cuba, the Cuban Council of Churches (CIC), reports that
the most affected provinces are Granma, Sancti Spiritus and Cienfuegos.
They immediately deployed an assessment team to these areas and according
to their report the most affected province is Granma, particularly
the area of Niquero and Pilon. The most urgent needs are food, mattresses,
clothes, shoes, and cleaning tools. They are planning to respond in
this area and their first estimation of resources needed to respond
to the crisis situation is U$66,000. An appeal might be forthcoming.
ACT member in
Haiti, Christian Aid (CAID) and the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) reported that they are assessing the situation.
Access to affected areas is difficult as bridges and roads have been
severely damaged by the floods.
