Dominica: Vulnerable citizens to get emergency post-Maria cash

The government of Dominica has announced a “major initiative” to provide cash those hardest hit by Hurricane Maria.

A collaboration with the World Food Programme and the United Nations Children’s Find (UNICEF) will see an emergency cash transfer to “the most vulnerable households in Dominica and their children”, said one senior official.

This move will affect around 25,000 people across more than 8,000 households, and money already began moving into accounts from yesterday.

Announcing it at a press briefing yesterday, Helen Royer, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Social Services, Family and Gender Affairs, said the money would “top up” existing funding.

“This indeed is welcoming as this will augment our current social support networks and help our beneficiaries to be more resilient in this time of crisis,” she said.

Anyone currently receiving assistance from the government will automatically be included into this new programme.

Other households that could be eligible must meet a number of criteria, such as being single-parent families, or include those with chronic illnesses, the elderly, pregnant women or those with disabilities, among others.

Head of Mission of the World Food Programme Marco Selva said this “social protection” comes after “the government of Dominica has already demonstrated the ability to manage a cash transfer in a very efficient way.”