As of late Wednesday night, the Dominican Republic's National Emergencies Commission reported 320 deaths and another 375 people missing in a flood zone encompassing the impoverished rural town of Jimani (population 12,000), near the country's southwest border with Haiti.

The worst flooding occurred between 2 and 4 a.m. Monday morning, when a dry creek bed of the River Soleil turned into a raging river while everyone slept. The flood waters propelled uprooted trees and huge boulders through low-lying areas. The destruction reached a massive scale in Jimani and neighbouring communities where an estimated 5000 families have been directly affected by flooding. While water levels dropped significantly today, affected communities remain in a state of red alert due to precarious health, sanitation and shelter conditions.

World Vision Dominican Republic (WVDR) staff, together with some 40 volunteers, began to feed and relocate displaced families on Monday morning while also attending to their medical needs. Water, food clothing and diapers were distributed to about 1,500 people in Jimani yesterday. WVDR staff also began to give tetanus vaccinations yesterday and set up four trauma assistance centres and three primary health care clinics in the flood zone assisting hundreds of people, in coordination with the Dominican government.

Some 3,000 people have received emergency aid to date, and ongoing daily aid distributions are expected to include clothing, mattresses, mosquito netting and cooking supplies. In weeks to come, WVDR hopes to engage in the reconstruction of damaged housing, re-establishment of small businesses, and implementation of water, sanitation, health care and education projects in flood-affected areas.

The massive flooding also hit areas of Haiti where those in need can only be reached by air because the dirt roads have been washed out.  World Vision is working with local agencies to deliver emergency supplies and aid.
                                                                         
World Vision Canada is appealing to Canadians for assistance.  

Interviews are available with staff in Dominican Republic.