U.S. Providing Assistance to Grenada
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-080
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2004
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - On September 7, 2004, Hurricane Ivan passed through the island of Grenada with sustained winds of 120 mph. Initial reports from a British helicopter reconnaissance mission indicate that up to 90 percent of the island has sustained damage. Churches that were used as shelter have suffered significant damage and hundreds of homes have been completely or partially destroyed. Current reports indicate that Hurricane Ivan has killed at least 13 people and may have affected 90,000 of Grenada's 100,000 residents.
On September 8, 2004, U.S. Chargé d'Affairs Mary Ellen Gilroy issued a disaster declaration due to the damage caused by Hurricane Ivan. In response, USAID is providing $50,000 to support local purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies, in-country air transport and aerial assessments of affected areas in Grenada. USAID, in conjunction with the U.S. Embassy in Barbados and Chargé d' Affairs of Grenada, is coordinating the delivery of emergency relief supplies including: 3,360 10L water containers and 6,800 five gallon water containers; 500 rolls of plastic sheeting (each roll can shelter 10 families, 5,000 families in total); four 10,000L water bladder kits and 1 water treatment unit. These emergency relief supplies are valued at $253,750.
As of September 9th, five members of USAID Rapid Needs Assessment Team are currently on the ground in Grenada. The USAID team will assess the impact of Hurricane Ivan, determine humanitarian assistance requirements, and coordinate United States Government humanitarian assistance. USAID is also coordinating with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) and members of the Eastern Caribbean Donor Group (ECDG), which includes the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
USAID will continue to monitor the situation in Grenada, as well as other areas Hurricane Ivan has affected. For more information on USAID's ongoing efforts in Grenada, please visit www.usaid.gov.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.
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