The Caribbean has already endured three storms - tropical storm Hanna, hurricane Gustav and tropical storm Fay over the last two months, and Red Cross Societies in the region have been assisting those that have been affected.
Relief and recovery operations are well underway in the Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica, Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, all of which have been affected by a storm during the last few weeks.
The Turks and Caicos Islands which experienced the most devastation when both hurricanes Ike and Hanna made its way through the Caribbean, has been picking up the pieces – slowly but surely.
“The Turks and Caicos Red Cross is pressing on in trying conditions,” said Nicole Williams, disaster management officer, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation).
Nicole explained the Red Cross has been working with together with other agencies to assist those that have been affected by the hurricanes. “The Red Cross has been trying to get tarpaulins and other relief supplies out to many residents before any heavy rains fall again.”
The Red Cross’ co-ordinating centre has moved to one of their members homes since the rented office in which it was once located was destroyed and flooded during the storms. Nicole said the volunteers have been out and working hard since the storms passed.
“The volunteers are great. They come out on short notice, call each day to see if there is any work to be done and are flexible to changes. This has made the relief efforts so much easier in so many ways as they have not hesitated to use their own vehicles and resources.
Ike, a powerful category four storm barrelled through the Turks and Caicos Islands with fierce winds and trains and tore roofs of homes and caused serious infrastructural damage.
At least 80 percent of building on Grand Turk have been destroyed or have lost roofs. South Caicos islands and Provo was also severely affected.
The British overseas territory had already been battered by five days of storms after hurricane Hanna hit the islands at category one strength, making the 12,000 people on the islands who are living in flimsy shack-like housing extremely vulnerable.
Kim Sawyer, senior administrator, Bahamas Red Cross said they were still in the process of distributing relief supplies to some of the southern islands that were affected by Ike.
“We are still handing out food and water on the islands of Inagua and Acklins. Assessments have been completed and we are working with the National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) is rendering assistance to those that were affected.”
The Bahamas Red Cross is also restocking some of the warehouses on the islands with relief supplies in the event of another emergency.
“Our volunteers have been working round the clock trying to get relief to those that are most in need. They are working on a shift basis so that they can also get some rest.”
The Bahamas Red Cross is also planning a livelihoods programme for the residents of Inagua which was severely affected by Ike.
“The residents on Inagua rely on fishing and faming for their income and those industries were totally destroyed during the hurricane so we are planning on doing a livelihoods programme to assist them to get back on their feet.”
The Jamaica Red Cross is also playing its part in the national response to tropical storm Gustav which impacted the island on Thursday August 28 and Friday August 29, 2008.
The Red Cross has been working closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and other agencies to ensure that the needs of those most affected are met.
The Jamaica Red Cross has also been responding to the psychosocial needs of affected persons as well. Members of the organization’s Psychosocial Support Programme have visited and will continue to visit affected areas and conduct counselling sessions.
Yvonne Clarke, director general, Jamaica Red Cross said: “We continue to work with other partners in the field both locally and internationally to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable are met in the aftermath of Gustav and to safeguard the vulnerable from the threat of other impending storms.”
Of the countries affected, Cuba and Haiti were the worst affected. Three appeals were launched – Cuba, Haiti and the Caribbean by the International Federation to support relief operations because of the mass destruction caused by the storms.
In Cuba, the International Federation is seeking CHF 10,106,348 to support the Cuban Red Cross to assist 12,000 families (60,000 beneficiaries) for nine months.
The Haitian appeal is for CHF 8,360,877 to support the Haitian Red Cross to assist 10,000 families (50,000 beneficiaries) for nine months.
The Caribbean appeal seeks CHF 1,778, 824 to assist 7,000 families for six months to provide relief to those affected by the storms.
The International Federation has already distributed a total of 345,000 Swiss Francs from its Disaster Emergency Relief Fund (DREF) to support initial operations in Caribbean.
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| The Jamaica Red Cross provided immediate relief to members of the public after the hurricane |
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| The Bahamas Red Cross was proactive in prepositioning relief items on some of the islands that were affected by hurricanes Hanna and Ike |
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| Jamaica Red Cross volunteers were out in the field conducting assessments to help those affected by Gustav |
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| Hurricane Ike destroyed many buildings and infrastructure in Turks and Caicos Islands |
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