USAID ASSISTANCE CONTINUES
LONG AFTER HURRICANE WINDS SUBSIDE
Long after Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne exhausted themselves,
USAID continues to play a role in their clean-up in many Latin
America and Caribbean (LAC) countries.
USAID has provided an estimated $22 million in assistance
in the Caribbean in response to the hurricane devastation
of the late summer – early autumn months, directed from
USAID’s Office on Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA).
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Flood Waters
in Haiti after Hurricane Jeanne |
The U.S. Congress has more recently appropriated an additional
$100 million to the region in response to the hurricanes.
The specific distribution of these funds among Grenada, Haiti,
Jamaica and other affected islands in the Caribbean is currently
under discussion.
“USAID will continue to assist the people in the Caribbean,
especially in Haiti, for as long as there is need," said
Adolfo Franco, assistant administrator of USAID for Latin
America and the Caribbean. "The U.S. is committed to
providing relief to victims of Tropical Storm Jeanne as part
of our ongoing support for democracy and economic growth in
Haiti."
Haitian authorities placed the death toll from Jeanne at
3,006 people, including 2,826 from Gonaïves. A regional
advisor from USAID remains in Port-au-Prince to coordinate
activities.
“This year's series of devastating hurricanes has severely
tested the people of the Caribbean, but USAID will continue
to help as countries throughout the region begin to recover,”
Franco added.
A summary of the USAID activities per hurricane follows:
Charley – In response to the issuance
of a disaster declaration from the U. S. Interests Section
in Havana, Cuba on August 17th, USAID provided
$50,000 for the distribution of 12,000 lbs. of food and medicine.
The populations on the Isla de la Jevuntud and the province
of Pinar del Río were hardest hit.
Frances – In response to a disaster
declaration on September 5th (and a second later from the
effects of Tropical Storm Jeanne) , USAID provided nearly
$445,000 in the Bahamas for emergency assistance,
which included airlifted emergency relief supplies, blankets,
hygiene kits, water, and plastic sheeting. USAID also provided
support to local air transport and emergency relief supplies
as well as support to the Red Cross for activities on Abaco
and Grand Bahama.
Ivan – Responding to a disaster declaration
on September 8th in Grenada, USAID initially
provided more than $2 million for emergency relief supplies
and in-country transport. As it further realized the expanse
of the damage, USAID then provided additional support for
health services and damaged infrastructure (including the
island’s electric system), for livelihood restoration
and short-term food security projects. Much of the latter
was through United Nations organizations. USAID has also contributed
an additional $3.7 million to rehabilitate health clinics,
assist small business and provide emergency housing.
Grenada was not alone in Ivan’s path, and in response
to a disaster declaration from Jamaica on
September 12, USAID provided more than $705,000 in emergency
assistance there. This included shelter operations for the
Jamaica Red Cross, emergency relief activities for the Salvation
Army, and varied relief necessities including medical supplies,
hygiene kits and plastic sheeting through World Vision. After
the extent of the damage was more fully realized, USAID has
promised an estimated $3.5 million in hurricane reconstruction
assistance to rehabilitate homes, roads, schools and water
systems.
Jeanne – The effects of Tropical
Storm Jeanne on Haiti and the Dominican
Republic were catastrophic. USAID has contributed
nearly $11 million in Haiti to fund emergency and relief supplies.
Working through a diverse coalition of agencies that included
CARE, Catholic Relief Services, and the Pan American Health
Organization, USAID provided air transport, health, shelter,
water and sanitation, and cash-for-work assistance. Many of
Gonaïves’ 200,000 people were expected to have
benefited indirectly from the cash-for-work projects that
attempted to reduce the risk of disease and increase mobility
in a clean-up-of-the-city effort.
USAID continues its efforts in Haiti with work to rehabilitate
the city’s water system and improve the poor road conditions.
USAID has reserved $2.6 million of the above allotment for
reconstruction of homes, roads, irrigation equipment and water
and sanitation systems.
Jeanne’s wallop was also felt in neighboring Dominican
Republic, where USAID has expended $50,000 through World Vision
to distribute emergency relief supplies. This included hygiene
kits, mosquito nets, kitchen sets, blankets, bedding, water
and plastic sheeting.
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