Australian government donates to Hurricane Dean appeal

The Australian Government, in October reaffirmed its commitment to providing the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation) with US$500,000 to assist countries that were severely affected by Hurricane Dean in August.

Hurricane Dean, the first hurricane of the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season affected many Caribbean countries. Dean which began as a category two hurricane, tore through the islands of Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia and Jamaica before developing into a category five hurricane as it reached Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, just above the border of Belize. More than 20 people were killed and severe damage was recorded throughout the region.

In Dominica, Dean destroyed 99 percent of the country’s banana industry. In St Lucia, communities were left with out any water and electricity for days. The government of Jamaica was forced to declare an island-wide, month-long state of emergency and in Belize at least 2,500 were affected.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Trinidad, Philip Kentwell, and Australian High Commissioner said the people of Australia have been affected by many forces of destruction in the past such as storms and cyclones and “know first hand what sort of effect this type of disaster have on people and countries.”

He said this was not the first time the Australian government was helping the Caribbean and noted that they made a significant contribution to Grenada and the Caribbean after hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Tanya Wood, Head, Caribbean Regional Representation Office, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said immediately following the passage of Dean, the Red Cross started supporting the thousands of people that were affected by the hurricane, distributing vital relief items and helping communities take the first slow steps towards recovery.