The United Nations today announced an immediate package of assistance for the victims of Hurricane Dean in the Corozal and Orange Walk Districts. It adds up to $700,000 and it will be spread among four UN agencies in Belize. Resident Coordinator for the United Nations system in Belize Jessica Faieta told us more.
Jessica Faieta, UN Country Coordinator
"The monetary package amounts to about US$350,000 for the immediate humanitarian response. In addition, every agency has been monitoring. For instance WHO has been monitoring the health of the population; UNICEF is making sure that the children are taken care of, the schools are in what capacity they are; UNFPA with the hygiene kits; UNDP in coordination activities. So together we have been putting together a unified response and in addition we are mobilizing additional resources. UNICEF and UNDP are mobilizing the additional resources for school rehabilitation, for income generation activities. So we are here ready to assist the country and to continue our efforts."
Faeita says that a considerable part of the assistance will be technical cooperation. The UN is waiting on confirmation of a food aid contribution from the World Food Program. Some of the areas in which the UN will contribute include the purchasing of 21 generators, $40,000 for roofing materials, and $100,000 for the rehabilitation of school buildings which were used as shelters. The lead UN Agency on that effort is UNICEF. Country Coordinator Rana Flowers says 2,000 people have been displaced and for UNICEF, the priority is the children.
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Belize
"We've seen that schools, in particular that have been damaged that we are concerned to try and get up and running because in one week's time the children go back to school. We are seeing families who don't have access to water and sanitation facilities and who are in need of food. UNICEF is focusing on the humanitarian needs of women and the children and what we are doing at all times is assessing where they are, what their needs are, we are conveying that information immediately to the Department of Human Development and to our colleagues such as the Red Cross and ensuring that we get the support that they need right now. So for us the priorities are definitely food and water."
