Dominica: Distribution of supplies ‘ongoing across the island’

Last updated: November 9, 2017 at 17:46 pm

Communities in need across Dominica are still getting Hurricane Maria relief supplies, an official in the Ministry for Tourism and Urban Renewal has said.

The help is ongoing even after more than 520 deliveries have been made to 115 communities.

Permanent secretary Careen Prevost, speaking at Dominica’s daily post-Hurricane Maria news briefing, gave an update on what had been done in regards to distribution.

The amount transported across the island is equivalent to 1,000 tonnes of food and water, she said.

She touched on the government’s recent partnership with the World Food Programme.

The work has seen 40 communities receive 376 tonnes of food, as well as a combination of 27-, 14- and five-day rations.

“Communities were selected based on the level of vulnerability, loss of livelihood and access to markets,” Prevost said.

Incoming containers

Prevost explained that the focus for distribution this week has been homes for the elderly, foster care families and those living in shelters.

Water for schools has also been a priority as more open to their students, she added.

Dominica has seen 60 containers of relief supplies arrive in the country from across the world, including two from the UK, which WIC News reported on in early October.

Prevost said that any personal relief supplies that had been sent in containers by individuals have been passed on to the customs and port authority.

“Moving forward in the transition process as Cecil [Shillingford, disaster risk management consultant], we are looking to transition from response to recovery,” she said.

[caption id="attachment_5877" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Destruction in Dominica.[/caption]

“We have already moved our operations form the port at Woodridge Bay, which has really opened up the port to be able to conduct its regular business, for commercial operations and also for individuals to receive their barrels and other supplies that are coming in from overseas.”

Most of the warehouses available for use have been repaired, and this has allowed more space at the port for smaller ships from nearby islands to dock.

“I would like to thank all of our Caribbean neighbours, and I would like to point out in particular St Lucia, Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, Grenada, Bahamas and a number of other islands who are donating,” said Prevost.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Dominican diaspora and their friends, who have also supplied us with key essentials”