Floods in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

Flood damage has left thousands homeless

Overview

On Monday 24 May the Silié river in Haiti, which crosses the border into the Dominican Republic in the Province of Jimani, overflowed, causing fatalities and severe disruption in both countries.

Plan staff in Haiti and Dominican Republic have been carrying out essential damage assessment work. Both countries are also co-ordinating with other international agencies to provide crucial supplies and post-trauma support to those affected by the floods.

The situation in the Dominican Republic

Plan staff are working with other agencies to bring relief to Jimaní, the worst-hit area. In nearby Barahona [Programme Unit 307], where Plan works, families have lost their homes and their crops. Some families in the area have now begun returning to their homes since the rain has subsided.

Carlos Custodio, Plan’s Unit Manager in Barahona says, “We are working in the affected areas to provide necessary support and conduct assessments. Communities here remain positive and on high alert.”

One of the most immediate problems in this kind of disaster is the high risk of a cholera outbreak, since flood waters very quickly become contaminated by raw sewage, garbage and bodies.

“Plan’s main priorities are the distribution of vital supplies such as drinking water, food, personal hygiene items and essential medicine,” says Carlos Custodio.

Since Hurricane George in 1998, Plan has maintained an active disaster preparedness programme with communities across the island. With these plans in place immediate help and coordination of communications can be provided when natural disasters occur.

The situation in Haiti

Plan is supporting affected families in the communities where we work, and also helping out in other areas needing assistance. The worst affected areas – mainly Fond Verettes in the West and Mapou, and surrounding communities, in the South East – are both outside of Plan programme areas. Plan Haiti is working jointly with the Ministry of Health and other partners to provide emergency aid as appropriate.

South East

This is the area most severely affected by the recent rains. Homes have been destroyed, farmers have lost their crops and animals, and many communities remain isolated. 

Plan staff have begun to distribute medicines in the communities of Marigot and Peredo [both are located within Jacmel Programme Unit 336]. Peredo can still only be reached on foot after a river crossing made the route impossible by car. Plan was the first agency to reach this community and fortunately no fatalities have been reported there. 

A shipment of medical supplies was sent via helicopter to Mapou on Tuesday 1 June. Today - Wednesday 2nd June - the Director of the South East Department of Health will be travelling to Mapou overland and further reports from this area are expected by the end of the week.

West

In Plan’s programme area [Programme Units 334 & 335], communities are affected but no lives have been lost to date. On May 26th, staff visited several communities here and reported that some families within Plan programme areas have lost property.

Northeast

It is still raining in the Northeast [Programme Unit 301], but there are no reports of damages in that area.

Specific reports on sponsored families will be forwarded when the information becomes available. At this point, Plan Haiti is redirecting funds already earmarked for the procurement of medicines to finance emergency activities.

Haiti, with a population of about 8 million, is the poorest country in the Americas. The Dominican Republic, with 8.5 million people, is more prosperous, but parts of the country, such as the Jimani area, are still extremely poor.  

Updated reports will be posted on our website as and when they are received from our Plan colleagues.