assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact
assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact
assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact
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In <strong>the</strong> fishing industry, approximately 3 500 marine fisher folk, mainly on <strong>the</strong> south coast, were<br />
directly <strong>impact</strong>ed as <strong>the</strong>y lost fishing equipment including nets <strong>and</strong> traps. Assuming that each<br />
fisher supplies an average <strong>of</strong> two vendors, <strong>the</strong> minimum indirect <strong>impact</strong> would be approximately<br />
7 000 persons. The extent <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong> for <strong>the</strong>se persons would have been worsened by <strong>the</strong><br />
length <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> recovery period which itself was extended by <strong>the</strong> severe erosion <strong>of</strong> some fishing<br />
beaches <strong>and</strong> destruction <strong>of</strong> fishing villages. The income flow <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se persons would also have<br />
been disrupted by reduction in dem<strong>and</strong>, as electricity supplies were not restored to approximately<br />
one-third <strong>of</strong> customers up to seven days following <strong>the</strong> event. It is anticipated that <strong>the</strong> worst<br />
affected persons would require some 2 - 6 weeks before returning to <strong>the</strong>ir fishing activities. Men<br />
constitute <strong>the</strong> largest proportion <strong>of</strong> fishers <strong>and</strong> would <strong>the</strong>refore bear <strong>the</strong> greatest over-all burden<br />
<strong>of</strong> damage <strong>and</strong> loss in this industry. The gender <strong>impact</strong> was none<strong>the</strong>less severe for women who<br />
make up <strong>the</strong> largest portion <strong>of</strong> fish vendors.<br />
The main livelihood <strong>impact</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hurricane would have been on small farmers 6 , farm families<br />
<strong>and</strong> persons involved in related <strong>economic</strong> activities such as vending <strong>and</strong> shop keeping. The<br />
timing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> hurricane would have amplified <strong>the</strong> <strong>impact</strong>, particularly in farming communities as<br />
many families would have been preparing for back to school expenditure.<br />
Approximately 1,237 children plus <strong>the</strong>ir respective care givers were affected by damage to<br />
nineteen (19) residential Child Care Facilities, six (6) <strong>of</strong> which are Government facilities.<br />
6.0 Casualties<br />
The Ministry <strong>of</strong> Health has confirmed six (6) deaths due to Hurricane Dean, 4 males <strong>and</strong> 2<br />
females. Table 1.5 outlines that <strong>the</strong>re were four direct deaths resulting from falling concrete<br />
block, flying debris, wind effect <strong>and</strong> ro<strong>of</strong> collapse <strong>and</strong> two indirect deaths from electrocution.<br />
Hospital <strong>and</strong> sentinel surveillance sites reported 628 injuries between August 19 <strong>and</strong> 25 7 .<br />
5 Approximately two-thirds <strong>the</strong> total hectarage lost<br />
6 As in <strong>the</strong> case <strong>of</strong> fishing, most farmers are males but women are predominate with respect to <strong>the</strong> vending <strong>of</strong> farm<br />
produce<br />
7 A total <strong>of</strong> 213 injuries were reported for August 25, 2007. These may not be directly hurricane related but reflects<br />
injuries in <strong>the</strong> post hurricane period.<br />
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