Preliminary Appeal

Haiti

Response to Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike - LAHT81

Appeal Target: US$ 1,160,426

Balance Requested: US$ 1,067,073

Geneva, 10 September 2008

In the last weeks of August and the first week of September 2008 Haiti has been hit by 4 tropical storms and hurricanes, namely Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike. The damages have been extensive, as all 10 departments of the country have been hit at least by one of the hurricanes. Damages are still being assessed as some areas in the country remain without access but already some of the main features of the outcome of this chain of events have emerged.

According to the Haitian Civil Protection (DPC), last weekend some 328 people have died as a result of tropical storms Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike, out of which 125 in Gonaives/Artibonite. Approximately 37 persons are missing and 136 are injured. Currently, some 78,200 people are in temporary shelters. In total, some 101,810 families have been affected, and about 35,000 houses have been destroyed.

ACT members Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe (DKH) and Christian Aid have been responding to the needs and are working together on a joint response. The three members have started the assessment on damage and needs, but given the difficult access to many of the flooded areas, the field assessments are taking place at the moment. Some areas in the country have not been reached assistance.

Funds have been provided by Christian Aid to their partners, and Diakonie Kastastrophenhilfe and Finn Church Aid have made pledges to the appeal. The ACT member Church World Service (CWS) has made an in-kind donation of hygienic kits and school kits. ACT members UMCOR and HEKS have indicated their intention to join the appeal.

Project Completion Date: 31 August 2009

Reporting schedule: Every two weeks during the first month, the members receiving a Preliminary Appeal funding advance will submit a brief (one-two page) Situation Report to the ACT CO, summarizing activities undertaken and progress made in the emergency response. Photographs and human interest stories should accompany the reports. Thereafter, reports will be submitted according to standard Appeal reporting.

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FOR THE FULL TEXT AND BUDGET OF THE APPEAL (PDF FILE), KINDLY VISIT THE ACT SITE. THANK YOU. _______________________________________________________________________________

Please kindly send your contributions to either of the following ACT bank accounts:

US dollar

Account Number - 240-432629.60A

IBAN No: CH46 0024 0240 4326 2960A

Euro

Euro Bank Account Number - 240-432629.50Z

IBAN No: CH84 0024 0240 4326 2950Z

Account Name: ACT - Action by Churches Together

UBS AG

8, rue du Rhône

P.O. Box 2600

1211 Geneva 4, SWITZERLAND

Swift address: UBSWCHZH80A

Please also inform the Finance Officer Jessie Kgoroeadira (jkg@act-intl.org) and the Programme Officer, Michael Zschiegner (mzs@act-intl.org of all pledges/contributions and transfers, including funds sent direct to the implementers, now that the Pledge Form is no longer attached to the Appeal.

We would appreciate being informed of any intent to submit applications for EU, USAID and/or other back donor funding and the subsequent results. We thank you in advance for your kind cooperation.

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ACT is a global alliance of churches and related agencies working to save lives and support communities in emergencies worldwide. The ACT Coordinating Office is based with the World Council of Churches (WCC) and The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) in Switzerland.