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Mauritius - Cyclones Hollanda/Ivy Feb 1994 UN DHA Situation Reports 1-5

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DHA-GENEVA 94/0046
MAURITIUS - CYCLONE HOLLANDA
ALERT
10 FEBRUARY 1994

CYCLONE HOLLANDA, WITH WIND STRENGTH 220 KM/H AND INCREASING, IS RAPIDLY APPROACHING MAURITIUS FROM A NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION. EMERGENCY STATUS 'FLASH CLASS 3' IN EFFECT AND 'CLASS 4' MAY BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY. SINCE IT IS A NATIONAL HOLIDAY (CHINESE NEW YEAR) MOST PEOPLE ARE AT HOME, AND STAYING HOME IS ONE OF RECOMMENDATIONS DURING 'CLASS 3.'

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS/GENEVA - 414242 DHA CH

DPR 310 MAR

DHA-GENEVA 94/0048

MAURITIUS - CYCLONE HOLLANDA
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
11 FEBRUARY 1994

1. TROPICAL CYCLONE HOLLANDA HIT NORTH MAURITIUS AT 21 HOURS LAST NIGHT. IT PASSED OVER ISLAND WITH WINDSPEEDS OF 180-190 KM/H, AFFECTING PARTICULARLY NORTHERN PART AND CAPITAL, PORT LOUIS. STORM THREATENING ALSO INDIAN OCEAN SHIPPING AND WAS CENTERED VERY CLOSE TO REUNION, ALSO SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. HEAVY WINDS/TORRENTIAL RAINS FOLLOWED CYCLONE.

2. MAURITIUS IS A MAJOR SUGAR PRODUCER AND, APART FROM DAMAGE TO INFRASTRUCTURE, SUGAR CROP IS PROBABLY SERIOUSLY AFFECTED. SINCE VIRTUALLY ALL COMMUNICATION LINKS CUT, NO OTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON CASUALTIES/DAMAGE.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: A. UDO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3153

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DPR 310 MAR

DHA-GENEVA 94/0049

MAURITIUS - CYCLONE HOLLANDA
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 2
13 FEBRUARY 1994

1. TROPICAL CYCLONE HOLLANDA HIT IN PARTICULAR NORTHERN MAURITIUS AND ITS CAPITAL PORT LOUIS: THE CYCLONE ALERT WAS LIFTED AT 9.20 AM ON FRIDAY 11 FEBRUARY. HOLLANDA AFTER LEAVING MAURITIUS (AND REUNION) WEAKENED AND CHANGED TO A MORE SOUTHERN COURSE,BYPASSING MADAGASCAR.

HOLLANDA WAS THE WORST CYCLONE TO HIT AFTER GERVAISE IN 1975. THE HIGHEST RECORDED WINDSPEED WAS 225 KM/H

2. PRELIMINARY REPORTS ARE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE DONE TO VEGETATION AND CROPS. TWO PEOPLE DEAD, 290 HOUSES ARE DESTROYED AND 160 HEAVILY DAMAGED. 50 PER CENT OF THE TELEPHONE SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION AND ELECTRICAL POWER IS MOSTLY OUT (DAMAGE ESTIMATED AT USD 12.5 MILLION). THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO COASTAL STRUCTURES. LANDSLIDES MAY OCCUR.

GOVERNMENT WHICH HAS STARTED A DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ESTABLISHED AS PRIORITIES: OPENING OF ROADS AND RESTORATION OF ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK.

DHA MAINTAINS AN UNDAC TEAM ON STANDBY, SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT REQUIRE ASSISTANCE IN NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND RELIEF COORDINATION.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: A. UDO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-2917-3153

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141: DHAGVA

DPR 310 MAR

DHA-GENEVA 94/0051

MAURITIUS - CYCLONES HOLLANDA/IVY
DHA-GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO. 3
15 FEBRUARY 1994

1. MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE REPORTS THAT TROPICAL STORM HOLLANDA HAS DESTROYED UP TO 50 PERCENT OF SUGAR PLANTATIONS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A 30 PERCENT REDUCTION IN OUTPUT FOR 1933-94 SEASON.

2. GOVT HAS PREPARED 130 CENTRES TO ACCOMMODATE 1,500 HOMELESS PEOPLE.

3. PRELIMINARY ESTIMATE OF DAMAGE IS USD 84 MILLION, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT PRODUCTION LOSSES, COST OF REHABILITATING INFRASTRUCTURE, CROP DAMAGE AND LOSS OF INCOME IN INDUSTRIAL FREE ZONE.

4. UNDP/DHA RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE HAS CHAIRED A MEETING OF UN DISASTER MANAGEMENT TEAM (UNDP, WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA AND WFP) AND OFFERED UN SYSTEM'S ASSISTANCE TO GOVT.

5. MEANWHILE, CYCLONE IVY IS APPRAOCHING, THE ISLAND RODRIGUES IS THREATENED, AND ALERT 4 HAS BEEN DECLARED ON THAT ISLAND.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: E. HAEGGLUND, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3299

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DPR 310 MAR

DHA-GENEVA 94/0057

MAURITIUS - CYCLONES HOLLANDA/IVY
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 4
21 FEBRUARY 1994

SITUATION/IMPACT

1. ON 19 FEB, PRIME MINISTER ESTIMATED DAMAGE AT USD 135.4 MILLION. 200 PEOPLE KILLED AND EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE. BUILDINGS/ROADS DESTROYED AND ELECTRICITY/TELECOMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTED.

2. A DHA/UNDAC MISSION ARRIVED 18 FEB AND VISITED AFFECTED AREA ALONG NW COAST AND SW. THEY REPORTED FOLLOWING DETAILS:

AGRICULTURE

- SUGAR CANE: CROP MOSTLY DAMAGED BUT NOT DESTROYED, REDUCED HARVEST EXPECTED.

- VEGETABLES: MANY FIELDS DEVASTATED, ACCELERATED REPLANTING WITH GOVT-PROVIDED SEEDS IN PROGRESS.

- GENERAL VEGETATION: SEVERE DAMAGE TO TREES/PLANTS IN SOME LOCATIONS.

INFRASTRUCTURE

- POWER NETWORK WIDELY DAMAGED, MAINLY BY TREES FALLING ON POWER LINES. RESTORED TO APPROX. 75 PERCENT BY 20 FEB.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS (EXTERNAL + INTERNAL)

- SEVERELY AFFECTED, INCL. MICROWAVE LINK NORTH-SOUTH. PARTIALLY RESTORED. MICROWAVE LINK TO REUNION AND SAT-LINK TO RODRIGUES RESTORED. OTHERS PARTIALLY RESTORED, ONE 30-FOOT SAT-DISH DAMAGED, UNDER REPAIR. INTERNATIONAL PHONE LINKS RESTORED.

ROADS

MAIN ROADS BLOCKED BY TREES/LANDSLIDES, ALL OPEN TO TRAFFIC AGAIN. SECONDARY ROADS STILL PARTIALLY CLOSED DUE LANDSLIDES, CAUSED BY TORRENTIAL RAINS AND LACK OF MAINTENANCE OF DRAINS IN MOUNTAIN AREAS.

HOUSING

- DAMAGED/DESTROYED: MAINLY 'SHACKS' OF CORRUGATED IRON, MANY BY FALLING TREES.

- MODERATE DAMAGE TO NEWER TYPE (CONCRETE) BUILDINGS, SOME DUE TO POOR CONSTRUCTION.

- LANDSLIDE 'LA BUTTE' UNDER CONTROL.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

3. 'SOLIDARITY PROGRAMME' COLLECTING FOOD FOR HOMELESS STILL IN SCHOOLS.

- RESPECTIVE SERVICES REPAIRING ELECTRICITY/TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS, WATER SUPPLY RESTORED.

- VOLUNTARY 'CLEAN-UP OPERATION' TOOK PLACE IN URBAN AREAS 19/20 FEB, VERY SUCCESSFUL

- GOVT PROVIDING 5,000 RUPEES GRANT PER HOMELESS FAMILY AND LOW- INTEREST LOANS FOR FAMILIES + FARMERS/BUSINESSES (3-6 PERCENT).

4. GOVT CONFIRMS INTEREST IN RECEIVING UN-SYSTEM ASSISTANCE.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

5. DHA HAS FIELDED A 2-MAN UNDAC TEAM, SPECIALIZED IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ENGINEERING. THE LATTER SPECIALIST WILL VISIT ALSO RODRIGUES. DHA HAS GIVEN USD 30,000 EMERGENCY GRANT TO BE SPENT IN CONSULTATION WITH DHA TEAM, UNDMT AND GOVT.

6. DHA IS PREPARED TO SERVE AS CHANNEL FOR CASH CONTRIBUTIONS TO BE USED DURING IMMEDIATE RELIEF PHASE. FUNDS ARE SPENT IN COORDINATION WITH RELEVANT ORGANIZATIONS OF U.N. SYSTEM, AND DHA PROVIDES DONOR GOVERNMENTS WITH WRITTEN CONFIRMATION ON UTILIZATION OF FUNDS CONTRIBUTED.

7. FUNDS SHOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO DHA ACCOUNT NO. CO-590.160.1 AT SWISS BANK CORPORATION, CASE POSTALE 2770, CH-1211 GENEVA 2, WITH REFERENCE: MAURITIUS - CYCLONES HOLLANDA/IVY, DHA-GENEVA.

8. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: A. UDO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3153

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DPR 310 MAR '94 (1)

DHA-GENEVA 94/0058

MAURITIUS - CYCLONES HOLLANDA/IVY
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 4
21 FEBRUARY 1994

C O R R E C T I O N

THE NUMBER OF DEATHS MENTIONED IN PARA. 1 OF THIS REPORT IS NOT 200, BUT 2, REPEAT 2.

DHA-GENEVA 414242 DHA CH

DHA-GENEVA 94/0066

MAURITIUS - CYCLONES HOLLANDA/IVY
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 5
2 MARCH 1994

SITUATION

1. EMERGENCY RELIEF PHASE IS OVER, FOLLOWING CYCLONES HOLLANDA (WHICH CAUSED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE IN MAURITIUS) AND IVY (WHICH DID SAME IN RODRIGUES, ALTHOUGH TO A LESSER EXTENT). REHABILITATION/RECONSTRUCTION NOW TAKING PLACE. MOST PEOPLE HAVE RETURNED HOME AND ARE REPAIRING DAMAGED HOUSES WITH GOVT ASSISTANCE. TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ROAD LINKS FUNCTIONING AGAIN, WHILE FURTHER INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS ARE UNDER WAY.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

2. GOVT TAKING MEASURES TO INCREASE PREPAREDNESS IN THIS CYCLONE-PRONE COUNTRY.

3. UNDAC MISSION RETURNED FROM MAURITIUS, REPORTING NEED OF ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMMES. UPON REQUEST, A DETAILED REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM DHA BY END OF MARCH.

4. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY ITEM.

5. THIS IS LAST REPORT FOR THIS EMERGENCY UNLESS THERE ARE UNFORESEEN DEVELOPMENTS.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-917-1234
EMERGENCY TEL. NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-917-2010

DESK OFFICER: A. UDO, DIRECT TEL: +41-22-917-3153

TELEX: 414242 DHA CH
FAX: +41-22-917-0023
ELECTRONIC MAIL: DIALCOM 141:DHAGVA

DPR 310 MAR '94 (1)