Haiti Security Weather Flooding Cyclone-Risk June 9

According to:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_atl.shtml

which we can subscribe to via news readers, and which is updated every 6 hours during hurricane season, FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO.

1. A LARGE AREA OF CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS MOVING WESTWARD ACROSS THE
WINDWARD ISLANDS AND THE SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA IS ASSOCIATED

WITH A TROPICAL WAVE. SURFACE PRESSURES REMAIN HIGH AND UPPER-LEVEL
WINDS ARE NOT CURRENTLY FAVORABLE FOR SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT.

THERE IS A LOW CHANCE...10 PERCENT... OF THIS SYSTEM BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
"Tropical Cyclone" is a storm that can become a "Possible Hurricane." This is a low risk that impacts Haiti and the BP Gulf Oil Spill.

Basically most Haiti cities will get one clear day in five, where the rains can include occasional thunderstorms, and sometimes high winds (like around 20 km/h)

I have not seen a military police JOTC situation report since June 4, but the Red Cross did send out a June 4 Security Incident report.

http://reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/EGUA-864PT6?OpenDocument&rc=2

Also Situation News 2010 June 4 – The UN Security Council authorizes more international police to Haiti. The forces added today boost the total number of international police in Haiti to 4,391, working alongside 8,940 military troops.

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JOTC SITREP 04 June 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

• Security Council authorizes increased police strength for UN force in Haiti
• HRIC slow to spring to life despite Punta Cana Summit
• Severe damage from heavy rains in Ouanaminthe
• Sweep operations in Fort Toulon net 36 arrests

I. GENERAL SITUATION

No tropical cyclone formation is expected during the next forty-eight hours, however a high-pressure system spinning in the mid-Atlantic will continue pushing moisture over the Caribbean. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will likely develop over the Greater Antilles, including Haiti. The storm-watch issued on 26 May (protectioncivile.gouv.ht/bulletin_jour.htm) therefore continues in effect, particularly for the southern part of the country, which the Centre National de Météorologie has identified as at greatest risk for overflowing rivers, mudslides, landslides, subsidence and flooding.

The UN Security Council today authorized a significant increase in the number of police officers serving with the peacekeeping force in Haiti as part of the efforts to help boost the capacity of the country’s national police to meet the myriad challenges arising in the wake of January’s catastrophic earthquake. This deployment of an additional 680 officers will bring the total number of UN Police serving with MINUSTAH to 4,391. (www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=34920&Cr=haiti&Cr1=)

The Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (HRIC) got off to a slow start at its first meeting, only 72 hours after the appointment of eleven Haitian members to serve on its board of directors. The Haitian commissioners for reconstruction were present at the Punta Cana Summit in neighbouring Dominican Republic, but the meeting was hampered by the absence of their foreign counterparts. Progress was further hindered by the lack of an HRIC Executive Director, who has yet to be named by President Préval. Haitian authorities have announced two new important dates for moving forward, with official presentation of the Committee next week on 7 June, to be followed on 14 June by the first working session of the Commission.

The two HRIC co-chairs, the UN and Haitian authorities are all awaiting release of funds promised by donors at the previous conference in New York, which were confirmed at the meeting in Punta Cana, where the UN Special Envoy called on donors to honour their commitments to launch the reconstruction process. The Haitian Prime Minister meanwhile revealed that 60 selected projects had been submitted to donors for consideration. Donor approval is essential for launching projects already regarded by some opposition political leaders as well behind schedule. (Source: http://www.metropolehaiti.com/metropole/full_une_fr.php?id=17800)

II. SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER

Over the last twenty-four hours, the security situation in Haiti has remained largely stable, but the security environment continues to be characterized by persistent criminal activity. Disaster-preparedness has moved to the forefront of planning by all MINUSTAH components, as the weather forecast continues to point toward heavy rains that could require the rapid deployment of MINUSTAH resources to support for local or national authorities in coping with serious challenges.

Heavy rains on 1 June in Miragoâne (Nippes) forced the evacuation of 770 families located in various communities. The following day, the city of Hinche was cut off from Mirebalais when the road became flooded. Also on 2 June in Port-au-Prince, relentless rains resulted in injuries to six minors when a tree felt on their school. The children were rescued with the help of UNPOL, HNP, French engineers and the Haitian Fire Brigade, then transported to hospital for medical treatment. Late in the evening, news from Ouanaminthe (North-East) also brought reports of heavy rains in the department that caused the River Massacre to overflow its banks (further details below under ‘Humanitarian Operations’). The Police Operations Centre was informed this morning that access to Bord-de-Mer via Limonade (North) became impossible after yesterday’s rains caused a fissure in the road before the bridge, preventing crossing.

On 2 June in Baudouin (Jacmel, South-East), a WFP local staff member on his way home was assaulted by an unknown numbers of armed individuals. The incident occurred between the MINUSTAH and WFP offices at around 2100 hours. The victim suffered a gunshot injury and was evacuated to the Argentinean Hospital in Port-au-Prince on 3 June at 1600 hours.

Two sweeping operations in the Fort Touron area of Port-au-Prince on 2 and 3 June led to the detention and arrest of 36 suspects by HNP. Additional arrests were made throughout the country, including on 2 June a 23-year-old male in Cap-Haïtien (North) for the rape of a minor (suspect already possessed a criminal record for rape and kidnapping. An escaped prisoner in Petit Goâve was also apprehended, in addition to two kidnapping suspects in Port-de-Paix (North-West) in connection with an abduction on 23 May. Finally, on 3 June an HNP officer was wounded by gunfire during the arrest of a prison escapee in Miragoâne (Nippes), while another escapee died during the exchange of fire between the UDMO (departmental public order unit) and the criminals. Four other prison escapees, along with two unidentified suspects, were arrested.

On 3 June, two UN vehicles were damaged in collisions in Miragoâne. In the first incident, the driver of a motorcycle tried to overtake a UN vehicle as it was turning left. The motorcycle driver suffered minor injuries, for which he was treated at hospital. The second incident only involved vehicular damage.

Today, Léogâne was the stage of a large three-hour demonstration. JOTC Security and Police components reported over 1,000 participants protesting in front of the town hall against an alleged lack of support from local authorities since the 12 January earthquake. The demonstration was monitored by MINUSTAH police and military, along with HNP, and ended peacefully.

During the last forty-eight hours, UNPOL and HNP have conducted 664 joint patrols and 111 checkpoints throughout the country. A total of 63 arrests were reported including one escaped prisoner. MINUSTAH military conducted 2052 security operations, involving 10118 troops, and 18 maritime patrols, sailing 340 nautical miles.

III. HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS

In the late evening of 2 June, approximately 120 mm of rain fell in the Northeast department of Haiti, provoking one local mayor to consider a general evacuation. After MINUSTAH military and local authorities carried out a quick assessment of the area, however, the waters of the River Massacre began quickly to recede. In the locality of Ouanaminthe, the new bridge linking the city to Dajabon across the border in the Dominican Republic was particularly affected when the major access road was cut.

Quickly reacting to the event, representatives from the Civil Protection Directorate (DPC) joined WFP Logistics Cluster Lead, OCHA, HNP, local authorities and MINUSTAH Police on an aerial assessment of the flooded zones the next day to evaluate the damage. Based on a report produced by the DPC, the findings of the mission concluded that:

• 250 houses were flooded and still covered by mud and water;
• the border market remained under water;
• the embankment of the River Massacre river suffered heavy damage;
• structural damage to the old Ouanaminthe-Dajabon bridge was significant, but the new bridge remained usable after only minor damage;
• crop damage appeared substantial, but further evaluation would be needed; and
• the zone of Gaya, home to 14,758 people, was hardest hit by the flooding, leaving part of the locality inaccessible after landslides.

ReliefWeb reported that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) yesterday announced that it would make $200 million in grants available to Haiti over five years to strengthen land tenure rights, boost agricultural production, increase market access for farmers and reinforce food security. These grants will cover a quarter of the total cost of a Haitian government plan to revamp farming after the earthquake and mark a significant increase in IDB support for rural development in Haiti.

Accounting for a quarter of the country's gross domestic product, agriculture generates jobs and incomes for millions of Haitians. The IDB will finance projects to improve economic and environmental conditions in rural communities, fostering sustainable crop production, while building on past investments in projects involving irrigation and watershed management, as well as efforts to combat pests and crop diseases. The promotion of farming techniques to reduce soil erosion and boost productivity will also figure prominently.

A major thrust of the new initiative will be to improve the system to recognize land tenure as a means to stimulate long-term investment in rural areas. Few Haitian farmers enjoy clear title to their land in the absence of modern property registry system. Under the proposed scheme, the IDB will seek to increase the number of titled properties and improve the quality and access of registry services in rural communities.

In the last forty-eight hours, MINUSTAH military have conducted 21 humanitarian assistance missions involving 141 troops. These missions included medical assistance, food and water distributions, benefiting about 750 families, 2400 people, 2000 IDPs, 207 prisoners and 3 orphanages.

IV. JOTC

The Joint Operations and Tasking Centre (JOTC) continued to respond to requests for assistance from humanitarian partners, the Government and the Project Management Coordination Cell (PMCC). To date, 800 requests for support have been received and 505 completed. Most of the requests pertain to the provision of security and engineering support.

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Needs Requests - Solicitation for Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets (LLINs)

In collaboration and coordination with the Ministry of Health’s National Malaria Control Program, the Vector Borne Working Group under the Health Cluster is in the process of coordinating LLIN needs and available resources. After the earthquake that had affected the country and to support the effort of the National Malaria Control Program( PNCM), approximately 800,000 LLINs provide by agencies and organization such as UNICEF PSI - OIM -MENTOR- -IRFC, are in country or slated to arrive to contribute to earthquake relief efforts. In order to reach the most at risk populations in earthquake affected areas, the Vector Borne Working Group has been working with the National Malaria Control Program to identify priority areas for LLIN distribution.

All nets will need to be distributed with appropriate information and education on hanging and usage and adhere to the attached guidelines. Should your organization wish to distribute nets but does not have required expertise/experience, training can be provided. Priority departments and communes have been identified.

NGOs requesting to distribute in these communes will be given priority. As such, the Vector Borne Working Group is currently soliciting requests from organizations to distribute LLINs in these priority areas. Once the LLIN needs are met in these sites, other requests will be considered. In your formal request for LLINs, please provide the following information:

• Name and contact details of requesting organization
• Years of experience working in Haiti and year of registration with the GOH
• Location (commune) and/or IDP camp(s) of proposed distribution base on the attached list. Please highlight your preferred intervention sites in the list provided
• Number of LLINs requested (based on 1 net per household within camps)
• Confirmation that the attached distribution guidelines will be followed
• Description of prior experience with LLIN distribution if applicable(quantity-place-year)
• Number of staff needing distribution training, if applicable
• Existing logistical capacity (material and human resources) for net distribution

Requests must be received by June 11, 2010 and should not exceed one page. Requests can be sent email to mleandre@psihaiti.org with copy to yjgpilou@psihaiti.org at Population Services International with mention “NET REQUEST”.

The Vector Borne Working Group, in consultation with the Malaria Control Program, will then assess all requests and allocate nets accordingly. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate contacting us.

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Recommendations for the distribution of Insecticide-treated nets in Long Term (LLINs)

Introduction:

As part of the response to emergencies and in the fight to prevent malaria and dengue fever, several organizations have in their mandate to intervene in preventing the distribution of mosquito nets. From the Working Group of the Vector Borne disease was designed under the coordination PSI Haiti, the subset distribution of bednets.

To improve the impact of the distributions of mosquito nets and the coordination of public and private stakeholders, policy recommendations were developed taking into account the reality of the camps, priority areas of malaria prevalence and human / material resources .

All these recommendations resulting from the collaboration of key partners distributing mosquito nets under the direction of PSI and in coordination with the "Vector Borne Disease group, the health cluster and MSPP / CNIL.

This document approved by the Ministry of Public Health will be available for distribution and partners are encouraged to implement within their respective mandates and resources.

1. Targeting (common minimum standard of 4 SPHERE standard)
   * = Recommended targeting the entire population

The Anopheles albimanus is responsible for transmitting the parasite that can cause malaria in Haiti begins to bite in the evening around 5-6 pm on that is to say when the majority of beneficiaries are not lying. It's the same for the aedes aegypti, vector of dengue virus, which is fed mainly at dawn and dusk.

Protection against mosquitoes offered by LLINs will therefore truly effective if there is a high coverage over 85% of the population (camp, village, etc. ..) and not only physical protection of individual beneficiaries when sleeping under a mosquito net.

In addition, given the low immunity among the Haitian population (seasonal transmission of malaria, areas of low transmission), any person is at risk of developing severe malaria.

NGOs that have problems in achieving this coverage, will work with other NGOs to maximize their impact.

• Distribution Method

For maximum impact given the behavior specific vectors in Haiti (Anopheles mosquitoes, Aedes, Culex) and gaps in KAP (knowledge, attitudes and practices) of the beneficiaries, the following points are recommended. They aim to get the best use, conservation and efficiency of MILD.

• The nets should be distributed taking into account their specific medical and not as NFIs (non food items)
  
• In addition to the earthquake-affected areas should emphasize the departments of high transmission of malaria (North, Northwest, Nippes, Grand Anse, and South and South East).
  
• The recommended method of distribution is the door to Hook near the homes of beneficiaries. In case this is not possible, the distribution must be made to a central monitoring follow-up visits at random recipients (with attachment if necessary).
  
• The quota is a MILD / shelter (shelter) in the camps of internally displaced people - For the host population, 2 MILD / home undamaged.
  
• The nets should be distributed to beneficiaries without their packaging business. Depending on the resources of organizations, the nets should be distributed with tools hanging (rope, nails, pin feed, etc..)
  
• For purposes of monitoring and evaluation nets will be marked during the distribution (marking on any surface of the screen and not the package) with an indelible mark. Ex NGOs xxx D / M / A
  
• The awareness of beneficiaries must be continued on malaria, the consistent use of the net and his maintenance during this distribution process (before, during). Wherever possible we recommend awareness 1-2 weeks after delivery.
  
• When distributions, filling the data collection tool (1) taking care to comply with all the information requested.
  
• Distributions after sharing the data collection tool (2) on a regular basis with PSI Haiti to ensure better coordination, avoid duplication and thus ensure effective coverage of 85% of the beneficiary population.

Note

Training a day to strengthen the capacity of staff are available through various partners such IFRC, PSI, the MENTOR Initiative.

• Community involvement (see a common standard of SPHERE standard)

Area affected:

The vast majority of camps have a management committee made of residents of the camp or not supervised by an institution. To gain a better acceptance of distribution activities and a lasting impact in terms of net use is recommended:

• Meet the committee and the training on the subject of malaria and use of mosquito nets
  
• Encourage committee members to conduct awareness sessions before and during the distribution of mosquito
  
• Have their active participation in the distribution with a good monitoring system
  
• It is advisable to include in this awareness simplified information on dengue fever and filariasis. In terms of gratuity See paragraph 8

Highly endemic area

For people in areas endemic distribution will be made after consultation with the Health Department involved in using health workers, representatives of NGOs and local associations.

• IEC messages on malaria and LLINs
  
• The camp population must be sensitized before-during and after distribution.
  
• The education materials will be printed in Creole and (brochures - poster) and audio (radio spot)
  
• Awareness may be door to door (eg door to door outreach for the attachment of LLINs, pilot shelter where clients can see how to hang a mosquito net, workshop discussion / demonstration in the queue, etc..)
  
• Whenever possible, each beneficiary will receive a screen printed educational materials on malaria and use of the net.

The key messages of awareness:

• THE CAUSE OF MALARIA (role of the mosquito)
  
• GRAVITY OF THE DISEASE (malarial coma --- dead!)
  
• GROUPS AT RISK: can reach everyone, especially the most vulnerable (person immune deficient, malnourished, pregnant women, child - 5 years, persons traveling to areas of low transmission to high transmission area)
  
• THE MEANS OF PREVENTION
  
  a. Consistent use of LLINs
  b. Clean environment (prevent puddling and eliminate any potential container)
  
• ROLE LLINs
  
  a. Physical barrier (to prevent mosquito mesh to pass but are large enough to allow good aeration).
  b. Deterrent or repellent (insecticide)

- USE LLIN (latch-wash-care information)

• The MILD when hooked to touch the ground or return under the layer
  
• The MILD day and night should remain attached and well-deployed to play its role repellent
  
• Possible side effects may be experienced (hives, itching, digestive disorders). These disorders are transient and we recommend washing hands after handling the net.
  
• Washing with plain soap and water every four months and extend the shade
  
• Keep out of reach of fire (candle-light - stove )

How to get education materials specific to MILD?

PSI / Haiti has IEC materials already approved by the Directorate of Health Promotion and Protection of the Environment is a cell of the Ministry of Public Health and Population. These materials are available in limited quantities partners. The models can be shared for printing after permission of the management of PSI Haiti.

NB No changes may be made to the various models without the written permission of the management of PSI Haiti

• Initial assessment (see Standard 2 of common SPHERE standard)

In conjunction with the camp committee, an initial assessment of the camp must be made to have data on:

• the number of families involved
• number of shelters
• access areas
• the storage nets in the distribution
• health status and hygienic.

A micro-planning should include awareness of the committee, the date of initial awareness of the inhabitants of the camp by the committee, the evaluation of possible pre-positioning / MILD storage on site, the definition of the distribution strategy and followed to the letter of notification to the mayor and the police.

• Follow-up (minimum common standard No. 5)

Monitoring the distribution must include awareness of users / Managers, messages on the maintenance and conservation of nets (mosquito nets are hung they always?).

The Recommendation is to empower the committee of such monitoring. In areas of high endemicity the assistance of health workers may be requested.

• Rating (common minimum standard SPER No. 6)

An assessment of the distribution must be made by the organization distributes. A key indicator of this assessment is the knowledge of users on the vector and the means to protect themselves against the vector and the change in attitude to sleep on a screen. (See also standard on an anti-SPHERE vector. These data will be compared with epidemiological data to see if the result from the decreased incidence of malaria has been achieved.

Note

The post distribution monitoring tools / training are available (Contact The MENTOR Initiative)

• Contribution / Gratuity

To carry out the activities, volunteer work is encouraged. However, given the reality of the camps and the availability of funds to the institution, a system of 'cash for work "can be established. The amount allocated per person will understand between 300 and 500 Gourdes per working day and will be at the discretion of the institution. No meals or transportation costs would be awarded. but the icy water in sufficient quantity for each day of activity will be made available Team Distribution / hooking.

• Coordination of actors

PSI / Haiti provides coordination and supervision of distribution activities nets. In this capacity he is asked all organizations that want to distribute, and / or distribute mosquito nets to coordinate their efforts to avoid duplication of activities.

Organizations must submit to PSI following information:

• Date, place and population distributions made sites
  
• Date - location-and population distributions provided sites.
  
• Number and type of nets distributed and characteristics of beneficiaries (general population, pregnant women, families with children under 5 years e)
  
• Constraints / Recommendations
  
• Tracking provided
  

To provide supervision during and / or after distribution to PSI Haiti, in each geographical department, a field coordinator who can with good planning framework for the institution making the distribution.

Also with the updated distributions already made in the PSI may limit its budget achieve mass awareness activities around the site with 2 vehicles with sound.

The information gathered will be updated regularly and communicated to the National Programme for Control of Malaria and clusters.

NB Meet the actual needs (common standard 3)

During a visit to the camp to distribute mosquito nets an assessment of unmet needs (health-food-health etc. ..) must be made and the organization must facilitate decision-committee contact with organizations that can help .

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JOTC SITREP 02 June 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

• US Operation ‘Unified Response’ ends
• Update on demonstration yesterday in Port-au-Prince
• OCHA warns that hurricane threat could reverse humanitarian gains
• Internally Displaced Persons Surveillance System (IDPSS) Update

I. GENERAL SITUATION

No tropical storm development is anticipated today, however much of the Caribbean will see some wet weather throughout the day. A ridge of high pressure spinning in the mid-Atlantic will spread moist air over the region, with widespread scattered showers followed by a chance of afternoon storms. The storm-watch issued on 26 May (protectioncivile.gouv.ht/bulletin_jour.htm) continues in effect for all of Haiti, but particularly for the southern part of the country, which the Centre National de Météorologie has identified as at greatest risk for overflowing rivers, mudslides, landslides, subsidence and flooding.

The US military announced the end of major relief operations in Haiti yesterday. Spearheaded by the US Army's 82nd Airborne Division, thousands of American troops were deployed to Haiti as part of Operation Unified Response. The US has been drawing down the number of soldiers in the impoverished Caribbean country steadily in recent months. The US Southern Command in Miami also noted that a 500-strong contingent of National Guard troops would be engaged in humanitarian assistance projects in rural Haiti through September. (Source: The New York Times)

UN Special Envoy returned to Haiti yesterday on a new mission to boost recovery efforts since the devastating earthquake in January. In his first visit since being named co-chair of the Interim Haiti Reconstruction Committee overseeing billions in aid, Clinton proposed credit programmes for small businesses at a meeting of community leaders yesterday in Léogâne, pledging to negotiate with landowners to secure more space for housing. The UN envoy then flew on to Dominican Republic to attend today’s first meeting of the reconstruction panel that he leads with Haiti's prime minister. The committee will oversee the allocation of more than US$5.3 billion in donor pledges over the next eighteen months.

Dozens of people protested on the morning of June 1 to demand the departure of MINUSTAH from the national territory. Students, university professors and civil society leaders marched through the streets of Port-au-Prince to demand the withdrawal of UN troops on the sixth anniversary of their deployment. The leader of the Union of Haitian Educators (UNOH) accused MINUSTAH with a host of abuses, including rape and plunder. Organizers of the action expressed their hope of influencing the UN Security Council in considering renewal of the mission mandate. This action follows in the wake of a recent incident in which peacekeepers entered the premises of the Ethnology Faculty at the Haitian State University in pursuit of an alleged stone-thrower. Despite a promise from the SRSG to investigate the matter, student leaders have so far rejected his official apology. (Source: AlterPresse)

II. SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER

Over the last twenty-four hours, the security situation in Haiti has remained largely stable, but the security environment continues to be characterized by persistent criminal activity.

Around the country yesterday, four peaceful demonstrations were conducted. In South Department, about 150 persons again gathered in Les Cayes to show support for the mayor, who had escaped after an arrest warrant was issued against him for attempted murder. In Southeast Department, a demonstration organized in Jacmel by about 100 members of the Mouvement Alternatif pour la Décentralisation et la Reconstruction (MADRE), renewed demands for the departure of the president and remaining senators, as well as calling for decentralization and national reconstruction. Over in Petit-Goâve in the West Department, 20 members of the Mouvement des Jeunes Révolutionnaires de Petit Goâve (MJRPG) organized a peaceful march to protest against the president and to complain of a purported lack of authority in their town, while also accusing the mayor and commissioner of diverting humanitarian aid.

Finally, in Port-au-Prince, 300 persons organized another peaceful march in the Champ-de-Mars area and on Avenue John Brown to protest against the government. Local press sources (as mentioned above) reported that participants also demanded the withdrawal of UN troops. In all these demonstrations, security operations were conducted by HNP, UNPOL, FPU and MINUSTAH military. No incidents were reported.

Today in Artibonite Department, the Mouvement des Jeunes pour Haïti Tout Neuf (MJPATN) organized a peaceful protest march in Gonaïves against the current situation in the country. The demonstration counted approximately fifty people mostly youths. A joint response by HNP UNPOL, FPU and MINUSTAH military provided security for this march without incident.

Yesterday in the West Department, three unidentified suspects threatened a man at gunpoint in Carrefour, robbing him of US$4,000 and documents in front of SOGEBANK branch in Mon Repos. An investigation was opened.

Yesterday, in Port au Prince, an UNPOL mobile patrol was suddenly assaulted by unknown persons who threw stones at a vehicle carrying three UNPOL and one HNP officers, along with their Haitian interpreter. Although the front left side window was smashed in the attack, none of the passengers sustained any injuries. An investigation was opened.

During the last twenty-four hours, UNPOL and HNP have conducted 312 joint patrols and 50 checkpoints throughout the country. A total of eight arrests were reported. MINUSTAH military conducted 991 security operations, involving 5,087 troops, and 18 maritime patrols, sailing 260 nautical miles.

III. HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS

With the arrival of the hurricane season yesterday, OCHA issued a warning that a new crisis could threaten Haiti even as the humanitarian response to the earthquake still faced daunting challenges. In order to prepare for the menace posed by rains, tropical storms and hurricanes, contingency planning has forged ahead in collaboration with the Haitian Civil Protection Directorate. Humanitarian rapid-response teams will be deployed in response to such an event, while other measures already taken include the pre-positioning of 2-million emergency food rations by WFP and emergency items in ten towns and cities by ICRC. As agencies working in the shelter sector are stockpiling quantities of shelter material, clusters focusing on water and sanitation, logistics, communications and camp management have equally swung into action to prepare for an eventual disaster. The danger posed by hurricanes to the already vulnerable populations left homeless by the quake cannot be underestimated. (Source: OCHA)

To protect Haiti’s youngest from the lifelong scarring effects of hunger, WFP is providing over 550,000 nursing mothers and children under four with foods specially designed to stave off malnutrition. Kids are eating healthy doses of Plumpy’nut, a nutritional supplement that packs 500 calories and over 16 vitamins and minerals into a 92g package of fortified peanut paste. Families also receive rations of corn soya blend, oil and sugar to take home and prepare for the rest of the family. In addition to the inhabitants of Port-au-Prince’s slums, the programme is also targeting families who have left the capital for Haiti’s rural countryside.

In the most recent update of the Internally Displaced Persons Surveillance System (IDPSS), the total number of clinic visits documented through week 20 stood at 207,537, of which 42,795 cases presented reportable conditions listed in the surveillance form. The total number of clinic visits by children under five with reportable illnesses reached 18,901, representing 44.2% of the total. Acute respiratory infections (ARI) remain the most commonly reported illness, with an overall prevalence of 9.4% of total reported clinic visits since February, followed by watery diarrhoea (3.9%), suspected malaria cases (3.7%), fever of unknown origin (2.0%), suspected typhoid (0.7%) and bloody diarrhoea (0.4%).

One additional confirmed fatal diphtheria case emerged during week 18 from Pétion-Ville. IDPSS collects data on diphtheria, but among the 207,537 visits documented, only two have been reported. This endemic disease in Haiti is vaccine-preventable. In addition, 94 confirmed malaria cases have been reported to IDPSS. Overall, the surveillance system has detected little change in recent weeks in the number and percentages of diseases/illnesses reported, with ARI remaining the most commonly reported. Finally, although the number of sites reporting to IDPSS has increased over the past three weeks, a frequent delay of a week or more has been observed. Timely reporting would improve the quality and stability of week-to- week data rather than relying on retrospective adjustments. (Source: IDPSS Google Group)

In the last twenty-four hours, MINUSTAH military have conducted 11 humanitarian assistance missions involving 146 troops. These missions included medical assistance, food and water distributions benefiting about 2,235 families and 1,903 people.

IV. JOTC

The Joint Operations and Tasking Centre (JOTC) continued to respond to requests for assistance from humanitarian partners, the Government and the Project Management Coordination Cell (PMCC). To date, 800 requests for support have been received and 505 completed. Most of the requests pertain to the provision of security and engineering support.

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Haitian Customs Process

Bulletin # 4 on rules for Haiti Customs and Immigration

http://www.logcluster.org/ops/hti10a/Bulletin-No4-100317/view

Most cargo to Haiti has to land in Dominican Republic first, so there's Customs & Tax exemption to arrange there also. Different rules for different nations.

Bulletin # 4.1 on rules for Haiti Customs and Immigration ... replaces earlierI do not have all of the bulletins, but by comparing the different editions, you can get a flavor of the complications.

Summary:

Whole story: 219 k, 3 pages1.

1. Get registration (approval) for entering the country (catch 22)
   
2. Demonstrate your financial worthiness to the Haitian government taxing authority (this requirement suspended until April 30 due to quake distraction)
   
3. Get tax exemption for humanitarian goods coming in by approved group. This document must be renewed quarterly.
   
4. Get customs clearance for the goods that have the exemption.

If your organization was approved to import goods into Haiti BEFORE Jan 12 quake, then you should be processing your cargo thru a customs broker.

Everyone else is subject to the catch 22 that the Gov of Haiti Ministry, in charge of approval, was wiped out by the quake & not yet back in operation. In the past we have advised that you partner with some organization that already has approval, and a track record for getting stuff into the country, and you know how to cope if your cargo is not on the capacity priority list. The UN has also invited people asking their help.

Bulletin # 4.1 adds the alternative of seeking the assistance of the Direction de la Protection Civile (DPC) with registration / clearing their goods.

There are always (at least) two components to importing humanitarian goods:Obtaining a Duty and Tax Exemption AND Customs Clearance, for which you may need to go through different gov offices for each.

The main Customs Office has moved to the Customs Building located near the Seaport of Port-au-Prince Port (APN).

In order to import humanitarian goods into Haiti, the minimum required documents for Customs purposes include the following:

• Declaration Form*
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading/Airway Bill
• Freight Certificate
• Declaration of Value or Invoice
• Gift Certificate (if applicable)
• Vehicle Title (if applicable)
• Certificate of Origin (if applicable)
• Phyto-sanitary Certificate (if applicable)
• Relevant ministry certificates (i.e. Ministry of Health certificate for medicines, Ministry of Agriculture certificate for seeds)

These documents must be ORIGINALS, often even stating ‘ORIGINAL’ on the document. They must be computer generated. Handwritten are not acceptable.

I posted to another thread about ADDITIONAL requirements that the UN imposes.For example, if you are sending powdered milk, you have to have clearance from the Nutrition Cluster, because your procedures need to be relevant to the water pollution issues in Haiti. Mix the milk with water in any other nation, and good for the child. Same thing in Haiti, and you kill the child.

Some documents I have downloaded that may be relevant to this discussion ... I could post them elsewhere on this site, such as my thread on Shareable Resources, in Volunteer Database Group (Miscellaneous attachment stuff from Al – the usual, key links, topics before I started thread specific)

This memo from the Ministry for Finance and Economy informs the general public, importers and exporters that Customs (Directorate of Fiscal Inpections) officers will no longer be posted at the Jimani-Malpasse border crossing as of 30 April 2010 to facilitate the transit of humanitarian goods. All organisations are advised that procedures revert to the standard procedures of pre-12 January 2010.

The procedures for importation remain valid.

Info on the Import Regulations document:
----------------------------------------------------------

Following the Haiti earthquake on 12th January, the GoH granted the grace period of three months for importation of humanitarian goods in response to the crisis.This grace period is only applicable to basic humanitarian goods (not to items such as vehicles, generators and other support equipment).

The letter from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, inclusive of an annex listing waived goods, is the above"Import Regulaciones frontera PAP"

There is an on-going effort to try to get GoH to extend the waiver of import fees for humanitarian goods.

Haiti Port Authorities (in French I think)

Every so often the UN Logistics cluster comes out with a package of guidance for people struggling to move relief cargo into and through Haiti, sometimes via Relief Web, often distributed thru the LC mailing list, which can take a while to sign up for ... I had been sharing military & police reports with many people, Ansel asked HOW I get them ... he tried to sign up a week ago, still not getting.

End of March 2010 summary.

As of 28 March, the importation of goods into Haiti now requires the customs declaration form to be generated by computer using software that is used by those brokers registered with the Haitian authorities. Given the situation in Haiti and the increased volumes transiting through the border, the LC is in discussions with the Custom Authorities in Port au Prince perhaps to place a workstation and printer at the border.

Full Situation Report 97 k 4 pages, from which I am highlighting a few items relevant to this thread.

Customs/Importation guidelines:

http://www.logisticscluster.org/ops/hti10a/proceduresfor-importation

DASHBOARD – Overview of Cargo Deliveries ex PAP:

http://www.logcluster.org/ops/hti10a/deliveries-overview/view

LC Bulletin 5:

http://www.logcluster.org/ops/hti10a/Bulletin-No5-100325/view

Updated Facts and Figures:

http://www.logcluster.org/ops/hti10a/facts-and-figures/view

Revised CONOPS is due for publication in the coming week.

http://www.logisticscluster.org/ops/hti10a/haiti-earthquake-response-concept-ofoperations

Transport Dashboard:

http://www.logcluster.org/ops/hti10a/deliveries-overview .

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JOTC SITREP 01 June 2010

HIGHLIGHTS

• Heavy rains and thunderstorms herald advent of Atlantic hurricane season
• Names of five members of HRIC released to media
• Peaceful demonstration in Les Cayes in support of local mayor
• World Cup drives demonstrators in Miragoâne to protest electricity cuts
• Child wounded during gun battle between rival gangs in Fort National
• Peaceful demonstration against the government in downtown Port-au-Prince
• UNESCO and education ministry unveil special post-earthquake school syllabus

I. GENERAL SITUATION

Today marks the beginning of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season. While forecasts anticipate this year’s season to be quite active, no tropical storms are expected to develop in the near term. Intermittent showers and thunderstorms in the northwestern Caribbean associated with the remnants of Pacific tropical storm Agatha continue, but the accompanying upper-level winds are not conducive to development into a tropical cyclone. Rather, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has estimated only a very low chance of (10%) of such a development over the next forty-eight hours. This system is projected to remain relatively stationary through tomorrow.

To the north, a broad area of high pressure is developing with dry and sunny conditions around Bermuda, but the flow associated with this system will direct moisture across the northern islands of the Caribbean, sparking showers, periodic heavy downpours and chances of thunderstorms across Hispaniola. The storm-watch issued on 26 May (protectioncivile.gouv.ht/bulletin_jour.htm) therefore remains in effect for all of Haiti, but particularly for the southern part of the country where the Centre National de Météorologie has identified the greatest risk of overflowing rivers, mudslides, landslides, subsidence and flooding.

Just forty-eight hours before the first meeting of the Interim Commission for the Reconstruction of Haiti (HRIC), various media outlets have published the names of five of the members. Besides the Haitian Prime Minister and the UN Special Envoy who serve as co-chairs, the names of five sectorial representatives have emerged: 1) Réginald Boulos, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Haiti, representing the private sector; 2) the leader of the Haitian Workers Central (CTH), Jean-Claude Lebrun, selected by union members; 3) the Rector of the University Quisqueya, Lucien Jean Bernard, representing the Senate, also sitting on HRIC board of directors; 4) Lucien Francœur, former secretary-general of the lower house of parliament, selected by that body before its session expired; and 5) Joseph Billy Louis, elected by the National Association of Magistrates. Names of the remaining members have not yet been released to the public.

II. SECURITY AND PUBLIC ORDER

Over the last twenty-four hours, the security situation in Haiti has largely remained stable, but the general security environment continues to be characterized by persistent criminal activity.

On 30 May at 2100 hours in the Carrefour area of Port-au-Prince, the local population lynched a man who had attacked and injured two men with a knife. The victims were taken to hospital and the body of the assailant to the morgue.

On 31 May at 1010 hours in Les Cayes, a demonstration was organized with about 100 people in support for the mayor of the municipality. The mayor escaped after an arrest warrant was issued against him for attempted murder. No incident was reported.

Also today, a demonstration began at 1015 hours in Miragoâne, where about 150 people demanded that the Haitian electricity utility (EDH) provide sufficient power to enable them to follow World Cup matches in real time. No incident was reported.

Meanwhile at 1430 hours in Port-de-Paix, a demonstration was organized by the students of Tertulien Gelbaud High School to protest the replacement of the former school co-ordinator. After blocking access inside the perimeter, the demonstrators ended their action at 1530 hours without incident.

Last night at 2030 hours in Hinche, a traffic accident occurred involving a UN vehicle and a privately owned motorcycle. The motorcycle struck the UN vehicle, injuring the two motorcycle passengers, who were then transported to the Nepalese Hospital. The UN vehicle was slightly damaged. An investigation was opened.

Today at 0936 hours in the Fort National area of Port-au-Prince, an identified local man called MINUSTAH to report gunshots in the streets between two rival gangs. Residents fled the violence, but calm was restored when MINUSTAH military arrived on the scene. An eight-year-old girl who had been struck with a bullet in the right leg was transported to hospital. The victim’s family filed a complaint with the HNP. Gunshots were subsequently heard in the area of Fort Touron at 1100 hours, but no further details have yet become available.

Today at 1000 hours in Jacmel, a peaceful demonstration was organized against the government by the Alternative Movement for Decentralization and Reconstruction (MADRE) with approximately 100 protestors. The demonstration ended at 1200 hours without incident.

At 1000 hours in Les Cayes today, another demonstration was organized to support the mayor with about 100 people in attendance. This action ended at 1150 hours, also without incident.

Today at 1055 hours in the Champ-de-Mars area, a demonstration of between 200 and 300 people to protest against the government started marching Pave Street and on John Brown Avenue at 1110 hours. By 1140 hours, the demonstrators had moved in front of the UNIBANK on John Brown, then at 1210 hours reached Villa Privée. The action ended at 1227 hours without incident.

During the last twenty-four hours, UNPOL and HNP have conducted 336 joint patrols and 53 checkpoints throughout the country. A total of nine arrests were reported. MINUSTAH military conducted 988 security operations, involving 5,056 troops, and eight maritime patrols, sailing 187.4 nautical miles.

III. HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS

UNESCO and the Haitian education ministry have launched a new website to make the special syllabus for the schools in Haiti available to sector professionals (www.haitiprogrammescolaire.org). This special syllabus was jointly developed by UNESCO and the ministry to take into account the trauma and disruption experienced by both children and teachers. Under the new syllabus, educational programmes will resume in stages, starting with psychosocial activities involving song, dance and other forms of creative expression to help children cope with the extreme stress they have experienced as a result of the earthquake. Children will also learn about earthquakes as natural phenomena.

Regular lessons will resume a few weeks later in an accelerated format allowing pupils to complete the school year normally ending in August in just eighteen weeks. Other materials available on this new web platform include information on the next exams, reference documents for the Strategic Plan on Education for All and the National Training Plan of Education. This initiative falls within the framework of the emergency response by the education sector in the aftermath of the earthquake.

In the last twenty-four hours, MINUSTAH military have conducted 13 humanitarian assistance missions involving 107 troops. These missions included medical assistance, food and water distributions benefiting about 9,673 people.

IV. JOTC

The Joint Operations and Tasking Centre (JOTC) continued to respond to requests for assistance from humanitarian partners, the Government and the Project Management Coordination Cell (PMCC). To date, 796 requests for support have been received and 505 completed. Most of the requests pertain to the provision of security and engineering support.

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