So, what about relief efforts for the victims of this natural disaster? Minister Orlando Habet spoke about relief efforts:
Orlando Habet - Minister of Disaster Risk Management
"Today in Cabinet, we submitted a preliminary report, which was prepared by the team. Cabinet is prepared to support us as much as possible. We have a contingency fund that we have available to source the funding to get the de-reservation, and to buy the materials and supplies. As we know it right now, those who are in shelters will need food, but when the cleanup starts, that would be cleaning supplies that we need, and other materials have to come into play. Certainly, we will be looking at a lot of damage to infrastructure. And just about a few months ago, we know that we had severe damage to infrastructure, roads, a few bridges, and culverts that were destroyed. And once again, we will go through that. We will be getting support from the government, but we will also be looking at the total assessment. And based on that assessment, perhaps we can also seek some assistance from some foreign entities."
Daniel Ortiz
"What sort of relief efforts can be provided to the victims who suffer the most in the natural disaster? Some of them are starting to consider, okay, so, how do I go about rebuilding what I lost?"
Orlando Habet
"When we look at Like homes and materials from within the home are a lot more personal to them, and it's difficult. The government doesn't have a set system in place for that kind of assistance. But we have a Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing, which will also be looking at that, making some assessments. Some assistance will be able to be provided for those people who lost a home or - possibly, like in a case in Santa Familia, where one house was just moved away because of a little landslide. It's in my constituency. So, certainly, we will be able to help. Some of them were roofs that were blown off in Belize City, sort of what people characterize as a mini tornado. So, some assistance will be able to be given in that situation. For the agriculture sector, it's definitely something that has to be looked at. The government can never provide all of it. Many times, if there is assistance for small farmers in trying to assist them with seed material, fertilizers, and also to do, maybe - through the Ministry of Agriculture to assist them with plowing and preparing their lands again for replanting - that kind of assistance would be provided."
