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13 November 2000 One month after Hurricane Keith struck Belize, Red Cross teams are focusing on providing the population with clean water and latrines to prevent epidemics, following persistent heavy rains in October which caused rivers to overflow. Torrential rains in October caused widespread floods, and major concerns are the potential health problems associated with flooding and destroyed wells and polluted water sources. "The torrential rains have wreaked havoc on water sources and sanitation systems, and it is imperative that we deploy considerable means to protect people from the spread of water-borne diseases," says Reidar Schaanning, head of the Federation delegation in Santo Domingo. The Federation is appealing for 1.7 million Swiss francs to assist 7,000 people with food and hygiene items for three months and to implement a water and sanitation programme for four months. According to the government, an estimated 100,000 people risk being affected by diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. The Belize Red Cross, in coordination with a Federation water and sanitation team, the Pan American Health Organization and local authorities, is implementing a plan of action which includes cleaning contaminated wells in 50 communities and providing rainwater collection tanks for 50 other communities. The plan also calls for providing temporary latrines and rehabilitating others. In order to implement public information campaigns, 360 Red Cross volunteers will be trained in sanitation and hygiene issues and some 100 health workers and volunteers will be trained in flood mitigation. Special focus will be put on strengthening the disaster response capacity of the Belize Red Cross and developing emergency telecommunications systems. The Federation team is currently assessing how to further improve the water and sanitation infrastructure and capacity in Belize. This long-term rehabilitation plan follows the emergency operation, during which thousands of people were evacuated to shelters when flood waters rose more than two metres above normal levels. The Belize Red Cross Society, with support from the Federation and assistance from dozens of volunteers and staff has, to date, distributed some 5,000 food and hygiene parcels to more than 24,000 people in Belize and Orange Walk districts. They also distributed 925 relief parcels in Belize city which were donated by the local community. When Hurricane Keith was being tracked and monitored in the initial phases of its formation, the Belize Red Cross worked in close cooperation with the American television "Weather Channel", which provided invaluable information on the strength and direction of the hurricane, facilitating the planning of the relief operation. |
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Flood
waters have wrecked water and sewage systems and left 100,000 people
at risk from disease, according to government estimates. 
