Overview

On September 17-18, 2004 , Tropical Storm Jeanne ravaged the northwest section of Haiti triggering mudslides and flash floods. The disastrous floods resulted in nearly 3,000 deaths and affected an estimated 300,000 people through loss of homes, schools, health facilities, roads, crops, and livelihoods. Although loss of life and property damage was most visible in the city of Go naives , the surrounding areas of Ennery, Port-de-Paix, and Anse Rouge were also affected.

The Tropical Storm Recovery Program (TSRP) was initiated in two phases. Phase I, a short-term program for immediate recovery, was financed with reprogrammed funds and disaster money amounting to approximately $11.35 million for relief items and emergency food assistance address the urgent needs of the affected population. Phase II, a medium-term program for expanded reconstruction and recovery was financed with $34.08 million in supplemental funds appropriated by Congress in October 2004. The TSRP activities aim to rebuild infrastructure to pre-flood or better conditions, restore the livelihoods of people in flood-affected communities, return areas of farm, pasture and hillside lands to productivity, and protect better against future flooding.

TSRP Activities

Work crews are shoring up the banks of La Quinte River to plug breaches which led to the flooding.Work started on three schools to be refurbished under the program. A grant from Haiti's Yelle Foundation provided additional funding to increase the total number of schools under the program to 25.The program has begun distributing in-kind asset restoration grants to micro and small businesses which lost tools, stock, or business premises during the flooding.

Studies have been completed to begin work on rehabilitation of the drainage and potable water systems in Gonaives and on 33 kilometers of primary roads washed out by the flooding.130 farms in the Plaine des Gonaives harvested beans in March because of program actions in December when TSRP got pumps working, furnished seeds, and provided tractors to prepare the fields for planting. 21 of 39 pumps on the Plaine are now working.15 of 16 hillside conservation sites in Bayonais and Trois Rivieres valleys are in progress.Program is rehabilitating five irrigation sites destroyed by flooding in the Trois Rivieres valley and will soon begin work on five more.

Partner Organizations

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will carry out the work on behalf of USAID/Haiti. CARE is heading a reconstruction consortium with Cooperative Housing Foundation (CHF) and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) to work on reconstruction and development projects in Gonaives. Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI) is managing the rural irrigation, hillside stabilization and watershed protection programs.

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