Bridgetown, Barbados: The United Nations Subregional Team for Barbados and the OECS expresses its profound sadness at the loss of life and damage to property and infrastructure in Dominica as a result of Tropical Storm Erika. The Subregional Team expresses its willingness to support the Government and people of Dominica to meet emergency needs and rebuild.
The United Nations has been working closely with the Government of Dominica to respond to the crisis, and with the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to support the Government’s response.
To date, United Nations agencies have provided the following assistance:
• PAHO/WHO has four staff members on the ground, a medical doctor, an environmental health specialist and two structural engineers. They are assisting the Ministry of Health with coordination and response, and carrying out assessments. PAHO/WHO has also provided supplies of medicine and medical goods.
• UNICEF has provided 503 boxes of adult hygiene kits and 100 boxes of infant hygiene kits, and well as 80 packages of water purification tablets.
• The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) has provided 15 Iridium satellite telephones and four Broadband Global Area Network (BGAN) terminals, and two staff members to install and activate the devices.
• The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has released a $50,000 USD cash grant for relief supplies to the UN Resident Coordinator.
Other UN agencies have supplies and personnel on standby awaiting further information on needs.
The UN would also like to thank the Governments of Barbados and Saint Lucia for their generous assistance with the transportation of relief personnel and material.
The UN System remains in close touch with the Government of Dominica, regional organizations and donor partners, and will continue to provide support through the recovery phase.
*************************
DISCLAIMER
This article was posted in its entirety as received by SKNVibes.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of SKNVibes.com, its sponsors or advertisers
Barbados News