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USAID Response to Dominican Republic Tropical Storms

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2008
Press Office: 202-712-4320
Public Information: 202-712-4810
www.usaid.gov

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The American people, through USAID, are providing $50,000 in humanitarian assistance to populations affected by tropical storms in the Dominican Republic.

Between August 15 and 16, Tropical Storm Fay entered the Dominican Republic from the east, moving across the island of Hispaniola and through Haiti, resulting in three continuous days of heavy rainfall and flooding.

On August 25, as Tropical Storm Gustav neared the country's southwestern corner, additional rainfall led to increased flooding in the area and the evacuation of affected populations. As reported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, on August 26, a rise in the level of the Ozama River provoked a mudslide, killing eight people and injuring two in the area of Guadalupe. According to the Dominican Government's Emergency Operations Center, Tropical Storm Gustav displaced 6,000 people, damaged 1,203 houses, and caused 739 people to move to temporary shelters. Both storms damaged infrastructure, including nine of the country's water systems.

By September 2, a third storm, Tropical Storm Hanna, had passed north of the island, bringing additional rainfall and high winds to areas previously affected by Tropical Storms Fay and Gustav.

On September 3, U.S. Ambassador P. Robert Fannin issued a disaster declaration due to the effects of the tropical storms. In response, USAID/OFDA is providing $50,000 through USAID/Dominican Republic for the local procurement and distribution of emergency relief supplies, including clean water storage containers, personal hygiene kits, and bedding items. The USAID/OFDA regional office in Costa Rica is in close contact with staff from USAID/Dominican Republic and continues to monitor the situation to determine whether additional assistance is needed.

For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, please visit: www.usaid.gov/our_work/humanitarian_assistance/disaster_assistance/.

The American people, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, have provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for nearly 50 years.

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