Supporting children affected by Tropical Storm Noel in the Dominican Republic
During the week of 29 October 2007, Tropical Storm Noel hit the Dominican Republic directly. Several days of heavy rain affected many parts of the country, causing flash floods, swollen rivers, landslides, erosion of riverbanks and severe flooding. The homes of many families living in vulnerable locations such as river banks or normally dry river beds were simply swept away by rivers that had turned into raging torrents. In some areas the flood waters filled homes with mud and debris.
On Wednesday 31 October, the President declared a state of national emergency and a major relief operation was launched. The most severely affected areas were the provinces of Barahona, Azua and Ocoa in the east of the country, the Bajo Yuna river basin in the north east and areas near and within the capital, Santo Domingo. By the time the storm’s effects had subsided there had been at least 129 deaths, thousands of homes had been destroyed or damaged, mostly in poor communities, and there were severe losses and damage to agriculture, infrastructure and services.
Rapid action was essential to provide a fast, life-saving response to meet the most urgent needs of children affected by the storm, focusing on children under the age of five. With Soccer Aid funds UNICEF provided vital relief items within the first week of the storm to families and children living in some of the most affected areas.
Funds raised through Soccer Aid in 2006 have supported:
This immediate response was vital and enabled us to reach vulnerable children affected by the devastation with materials to keep them alive and healthy. After this initial phase UNICEF’s work continued with the supply of: additional hygiene and nutrition kits to several thousand families and children; six temporary classroom tents, education materials and recreation kits for some 5,000 children; and psychosocial recovery programmes to help children overcome trauma.
