United Nations launches $9 million plan to offer aid to Grenada and SVG

In the wake of the destruction caused by the Hurricane Beryl, the United Nations and its partners have launched a $9 million response plan in order to provide urgent humanitarian aid to 43,000 people in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

The UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Easter Caribbean, Simon Springett stated that the swift action is crucial with a vision to meet the pressing needs of people whose homes and livelihoods have been vanished overnight.

Therefore, the United Nations and their partners made a regional overview and response plan which seeks $5 million for Grenada and $4 million for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Notably, Hurricane Beryl struck the two countries on July 1, marking an ominous start to what is predicted to be an intense 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Due to the Hurricane, several buildings on the Carriacou and Petite Martinique in Grenada and Union Island in Saint Vincent sustained heavy damage.

The aid organizations are continuing to assess the full extent of the damage but they are hindered by power cuts and downed telecommunications. Moreover, the resident coordinator also shared about his visit to Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and stated that the devastation is “immense and heartbreaking” following Hurricane Beryl.

He also noted that he talked to several families and individuals whose homes and livelihoods were vanished. He mentioned that the utilities will take a long time to be restored and bring the normalcy back to the island nation.

The government of Grenada also extended gratitude to the UN and its partners and stated that the response plan will play a huge role in supporting both immediate life-saving and early recovery efforts. They mentioned that the UN and its partners are support in their response which have identified shelter, food and health care as being among the top priorities.

The UN Resident Coordinator also asserted that the international solidarity at these moments is very crucial in helping people recovery from the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl and rebuild their lives. He also stated that together they can help the communities devastated and rebuild the nation stronger than before.