The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, asked its humanitarian partners today to send emergency aid to Haiti, following the threat of Tropical Storm Tomas. According to an official report released at the headquarters of the world organization in New York, emergency assistance to about 500,000 people is necessary.

Since Sunday, Tomas has lost its intensity as expected and was downgraded from Category 1 hurricane to a tropical storm. However, weather monitoring centers state that Tomas can turn back into a hurricane if its intensity increases further over the next 72 hours.

The trajectory of Tomas, although still uncertain, indicates different scenarios, the trajectory shows that this important weather phenomenon will affect Haiti in a way or of another (intense rains and wind gusts).

The move almost certain to Tomas, on or near Haiti, led to the implementation of emergency plans in coordination with the Haitian government, the Permanent Secretariat of Risk Management and Disaster (SPGRD) Department of Civil Protection (DPC) and the UN mission in the country (MINUSTAH).

Nigel Fisher, spokesman for the UN, said that the fight against the cholera epidemic should continue despite the risks of bad weather. He indicated that the fight against cholera has also reduced the reserves of humanitarian aid, making the situation more difficult, pre-positioning of food and other materials is accelerated.

Deliveries of supplies have been increased in camps where hundreds of thousands of refugees live. Concerning relief he said, "We need, among others [for the epidemic and the storm Tomas] 150,000 tarpaulins, 90,000 cartons of soap and 200,000 hygiene kits and oral rehydration for the treatment of cholera BEFORE the arrival of Hurricane

HL/ HaitiLibre