Recovery is focus of Jamaica Red Cross 'Dean' operation

The Jamaica Red Cross (JRC) continues to focus its efforts on recovery and rehabilitation, three weeks after the passage of Hurricane Dean.

The JRC has been working closely with the Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM) and other members of the National Disaster Committee to assist persons affected by Hurricane Dean, which impacted Jamaica on Sunday August 19.

The JRC has distributed over 4300 food packages, 1260 cases of bottled water, 1400 hygiene kits, 700 kitchen kits, 4200 blankets, 4300 tarpaulins and 130 mattresses to families in the most affected parishes of Clarendon, St. Catherine, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Portland, St. Thomas and Kingston & St. Andrew, as well as some of the less affected parishes.

As part of response efforts, members of the JRC Psychosocial Support Team have provided counselling to help affected persons - many of them children - develop coping mechanisms to deal with the stress of the effects of the hurricane. Areas visited are Rocky Point & Portland Cottage in Clarendon, Old Harbour Bay in St. Catherine, Yallahs in St. Thomas and Manchioneal in Portland.

“The Jamaica Red Cross wants to ensure that all the needs of the vulnerable are met and so the psychosocial support intervention is a crucial part of our response efforts,” notes JRC president Dr. Jaslin Salmon.

Preparations are also already underway for roof repairs and house reconstruction in some of the most affected communities with impending funding from the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO) and support from the French Red Cross.

JRC personnel and two French Red Cross delegates who specialise in house construction have been visiting areas earmarked for assistance, including St. Thomas and South St. Elizabeth.

In addition to repairs and reconstruction, the recovery and rehabilitation efforts will also include rehabilitation of fishermen, farmers, vendors and other skills workers. To assist these target groups return to a level of income generation, the necessary equipment and supplies will be provided with support from other funding agencies.

The recovery efforts, which are expected to begin this month, will continue for another six months.