Barbados, Sep 12, 2004 (CDERA) – Distribution of relief supplies continues to improve. Efforts to overcome transportation challenges to parishes outside of St Georges continue. Efforts also continue to keep residents advised of distribution information through the media services. Situation Update - 2:00pm Water remains in short supply whilst repairs are being carried out on the distribution system. Estimation is that 80% of water supplies will be restored in the St. Georges area by Tuesday 14 September 2004. However, three water trucks from the National Water and Sewerage Authority and one from St. George’s University will be attempting to deliver water nation wide. In the meantime Oxfam will be addressing the water and sanitation needs. The International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) has reported that the Grenada General Hospital is low on water and that the 95 geriatric and psychiatric patients from the hospital at the Richmond Home require assistance. It was also reported that the Princess Alice Hospital in Grenville had to be evacuated as part of the roof collapsed. There is a critical need for antibiotics and diarrheaol medication and relief personnel. The IFRC also reported that the Grenada Red Cross is focusing attention on 47 shelters that are currently housing between 5,000 and 8,000 people and manned by Red Cross Volunteer. The priority issues are for water, food, sanitation and personal hygiene. The IFRC through an agreement with DHL has chartered a plane to carry relief supplies from Panama to Grenada including hygiene kits, generators, food, clothing etc. A team of Regional Prime Ministers is scheduled to meet with their counterpart Hon. Dr. Keith Mitchell in Grenada today 12 September 2004. Limited commercial flights has resumed to Grenada by LIAT on a “first-come, first-served” basis during daylight hours. Heavy-duty equipment, building supplies and food from St. Vincent and the Grenadines arrived in Grenada today. The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force has deployed 5 officers and 127 other ranks with other detachments on standby to assist with reconstruction. A number of organizations have launched monetary appeals and have established Relief Fund Accounts for Grenada; these include the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the International Federation of the Red Cross. To date over BDS $1 million has been pledged through a radiothon aired on Saturday 11 September 2004. Logistics experts from the Federation Field Assessment and Coordination Team (FACT) and the British Red Cross Emergency Response Unit have arrived in Grenada. Communications Specialist from the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs/the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) to support EOC Communications are scheduled to arrive in Grenada on Monday 13 September 2004. The CDERA CU has deployed Mr. Wahad “Terry” Ally, Public Education and Information Specialist to provide advice and guidance to the Grenada EOC on strengthening the public information dissemination efforts. The CDERA CU continued to issue SITREPs on Hurrican Ivan which may be viewed at www.cdera.org. The UN/OCHA Reliefweb service is also posting SITREPs at www.reliefweb.int SOURCE: CDERA.ORG