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Friday, March 29, 2024

USAID announces an additional $3.8 million USD in help for volcano-ravaged St Vincent.

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The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided an additional $3.8 million USD in international assistance to people impacted by the Saint Vincent’s La Soufrière volcano eruption.

According to a statement issued by the United States Embassy for St. Vincent, the additional funding may provide hundreds of people with food assistance, access to clean drinking water, hygiene health supplies, sanitary toilets, vital household goods, and hygiene promotional efforts to combat the risk of COVID-19 and other illnesses in sanctuaries and communities. The funding will also be used to provide medical emergency supplies and support for health-care facilities, as well as logistical mechanisms to transfer, store, and disperse emergency supplies where they are necessary.

In April, La Soufrière erupted many times, causing large-scale evacuation orders, coating the island region in ash, contaminating air and water supplies, and destroying communication systems and agricultural supplies. Over 23,000 individuals were forced to flee their homes, and some may not be able to go back for weeks. Heavy downpours produced floods over the islands this month, as well as rain-induced volcano mudflows (lahars) in locations near the eruption site.

Furthermore, Dr. Gene Leon, the new Caribbean Development Bank President, has reaffirmed the Bank’s support for St. Vincent’s recovery and rehabilitation activities. He made the remarks during a courtesy conversation with Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsal, according to the bank’s press release.

Dr. Gonsalves was accompanied by Camilo Gonsalves, the Caribbean Development Bank Governor for St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Edmond Jackson, the minister for Finance, Information Technology and Economic Planning, along with the the Director General Finance and Planning.

The conversations focused on the issues that the Eastern Caribbean country is now facing.

With full needs evaluations now conducted, the Bank is delivering support via a variety of channels, including quick reaction finance mechanisms and crisis grant facilities, according to the announcement. Technical assistance and welfare support solutions are also being considered.

CDB delivered relief materials, comprising beds and water containers, as well as volcanic surveillance and alert gear worth at more than $135,000 USD earlier this month as part of its Volcano Ready Project.

According to Gonsalves, the rehabilitation program would need enormous work and money because the volcanoes had badly harmed public infrastructure, agricultural and tourism, water systems, and a variety of other services.

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