IR-EMOP Immediate Response Emergency Operation for Hurricane Irma

Irma is an extremely dangerous category 5 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale with winds reaching 180 mph (285 km/h). Some fluctuations in intensity are likely during the next day or two, but Irma will likely remain a powerful category 4 or 5 hurricane during the next couple of days. Irma is predicted to pass along the northern coast of Haiti on September 7th and/or 8th, affecting the North and Northwest departments.

Some areas in the Northwest and North departments of Haiti can expect to receive more than 150mm of rainfall with Irma’s passage. This rainfall will fall over a very short period, and will most likely result in river flooding and landslides.

Hurricane Irma is predicted to have a large scale impact on two departments with a total population of 1.5 million people, many living in fragile housing. The departments of Gonaives and Plateau Central could also be affected.

WFP Haiti is preparing to support response activities to cover the potential relief needs of Haitians affected by hurricane Irma to support Government interventions to save lives and meet food needs of the most vulnerable and food insecure populations affected by natural disasters.

WFP will deploy assessment teams after Hurricane Irma to identify priority areas. In the most affected areas, priority will be given to families living in shelters, families with malnourished children or children under two, female-headed households, pregnant and lactating women and elderly people. WFP is planning to reach 80,000 persons by providing 64 mt of high energy biscuits.

The IR EMOP will be implemented from 06 September to 06 December.