Taiwan is set to provide US$200,000 in donations to assist St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) after Hurricane Beryl hit the country on Monday.
Meanwhile, the European Union has pledged 450,000 euros to SVG and Grenada.
“At this tragic time, Taiwan Ambassador Fiona Huei-Chun Fan expressed solidarity and profound sympathy with the people and government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.,” the Taiwan Embassy in Kingstown said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Taiwan stands firmly and willing to offer support to provide an emergency relief grant as humanitarian aid for the recovery and reconstruction efforts,” the statement said.
It added taht Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te had reaffirmed the Asian ally’s “friendship and solidarity with St. Vincent and the Grenadines during this challenging time, as well as prayers for a swift recovery”.
Sperately on Wednesday, the European Commission said the
450,000 euros in humanitarian aid is to help address the most urgent needs of the affected populations in Grenada and SVG.
“The funding will serve to provide assistance to the most vulnerable people affected by the hurricane, including cash assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene, food items and other basic needs, among other aspects,” a press statement said.
To help with the emergency response, the EU on Tuesday activated its Copernicus satellite service in rapid mapping mode. Five maps have been produced so far.
“Hurricane Beryl has lashed the Caribbean with unprecedented force at this time of the year, causing widespread suffering and damage in several islands,” EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič said.
He said the initial funding will bring much needed relief to people that have seen their lives upended by this disaster in Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“As the hurricane moves further, the EU keeps closely monitoring its trajectory and stands ready to help other populations that might be affected in the next hours. All our response instruments, humanitarian aid and civil protection, will be mobilised if necessary.”
This new funding comes in addition to the over 2 million euros allocated this year for humanitarian aid and disaster preparedness in the Caribbean region.
On Monday, Hurricane Beryl passed between SVG and Grenada, with maximum sustained winds of over 220 km/h.
It made landfall on Grenada’s Carriacou island as a category 4 storm, intensifying later to category 5.
The hurricane has left at least two people dead and wide spread damage to buildings in SVG, especially in the Southern Grenadines.
Hurricane Beryl is the first hurricane on record to have reached the highest level 5 so early in the year, though it later went back to 4.
The very strong winds and storm surges have caused widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure.
The EU cited reports by humanitarian partners in the field as saying more than 1,000 people had to be evacuated in SSVG, while another 2,500 people were evacuated in Grenada.
What plans are in place to ensure that those affected get assistance they need, regardless of political affiliation. The public deserve to know, and should be exducated in how they can access the assistance.
Chiverton
This is the time for the NDP and ULP to unite to address this funding issue. This can and will ensure that all the people receive badly needed materials, irrespective of their political affiliations. It is also very important that data is collected on the distribution of the funds to ensure that no improper issues surface later.
One guy from the Grenadines has it right when he said it’s time to stop using galvanizer to cover roofs. I hope this could be a new standard for building construction in SVG and the Caribbean.
It is sad to see our people drowning in a glass of water, while others with all the ways and means sit around debating the situation.