By Nelson A. King
Two New York Congressmen on
April 21 sought the assistance of
Governor Andrew Cuomo in securing
aircraft to airlift disaster relief supplies
procured from private citizens
from the city to St. Vincent and the
Grenadines.
“As members of the NYC congressional
delegation, we write regarding
disaster relief for St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, where tens of thousands of
people are in humanitarian need due to
multiple eruptions of the La Soufrière
volcano,” wrote Congressmen Hakeem
Jeffries and Gregory Meeks in their
joint letter to Cuomo.
Jeffries represents New York’s 8th
Congressional District, which includes
parts of Brooklyn and Queens, and
Meeks represents the 5th Congressional
District in Queens.
The congressmen wrote that, after
the first eruption of La Soufrière on
April 9, up to 20,000 people, out of a
total population of 110,000, were evacuated
from the main island.
They noted that water shortages
have resulted from the contamination
of waterways, and catastrophic damages
to homes, caused by falling ash
and dust in the streets.
In addition, they said electricity and
food supplies have been disrupted, and
that thousands of Vincentians remain
in emergency shelters.
Jefferies and Meeks told the governor
that Caribbean leaders in Brooklyn
and Queens, “which are home to likely
the largest Vincentian Diaspora community
in the US, have collected relief
supplies” to provide to St. Vincent and
the Grenadines.
They said that, for example, the
Brooklyn-based SVG Relief Committee,
USA. has reported that they have
collected enough bottled water to fill
two 20-feet shipping containers, 90
commercial shipping bins, 120 barrels
and two 20-feet containers of
essential relief items.
Jeffries and Meeks said shipping
these materials by sea would take
roughly three weeks or longer.
“Alternatively, sending an aircraft
with supplies would deliver relief
much sooner during this rapidly
unfolding crisis,” they told Cuomo.
“We, therefore, respectfully request
your assistance in securing an available
aircraft to airlift disaster relief
supplies procured from private citizens
from New York City to St. Vincent
and the Grenadines.
“These citizens would greatly
appreciate help with the delivery,”
Jeffries and Meeks added. “We are
prepared to work with you to coordinate
efforts for an aircraft and we
welcome your partnership.”
Caribbean Life, APR. 30-MAY 6, 2021 3
Local residents fi ll containers of water after a series of eruptions from La Soufriere volcano covered the area with
a thick layer of ash in Biabou, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, April 13, 2021. REUTERS/Robertson S. Henry United in help
By Nelson A. King
The United Nations launched a $29.2
million global funding appeal to aid citizens
of St. Vincent and the Grenadines
affected by the major eruptions spewing
from La Soufrière volcano, pledging to
remain a “steadfast partner”.
The UN said the funding will provide
immediate lifesaving humanitarian
assistance, including clean water, and
support a sustainable recovery for everyone
impacted. Working with its partners,
the UN will also assess the economic,
social and environmental toll on
all the countries touched by the fallout,
including ash removal and improving
environmental health provisions.
Another UN priority is to continue
preventing the spread of COVID-19.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
located in the southern Caribbean, consists
of more than 30 islands and cays,
nine of which are inhabited.
At 4,000 feet tall, La Soufrière dominates
the largest island of St. Vincent.
Silent since 1979, the volcano
began spewing smoke and rumbling in
December, before a full-blown eruption
on April 9.
With over 12,700 evacuees now registered
in public shelters and in private
homes, the UN said, close to 20,000
people are expected to be displaced.
Entire villages have been covered in
ash, buildings damaged, schools and
businesses closed, crops and livestock
destroyed, and residents left with limited
access to clean drinking water.
“The level of destruction that has
befallen this beautiful country and the
widespread disruption caused by this
event will forever be etched in my mind.
The devastating impact of this event on
thousands of people is undeniable”, said
UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados
and the Eastern Carribean, Didier
Trebucq.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines’
Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
joined Trebucq to launch the funding
appeal, alongside multiple representatives
from UN agencies and international
organizations, including the World
Food Program (WFP) and UN Children’s
Fund (UNICEF).
Joining the launch online were representatives
from UN Women, the UN
Population Fund (UNFPA), the Pan-
American Health Organization (PAHO),
the International Organization for
Migration (IOM), the UN Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO), the UN Development Program
(UNDP), Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO), the UN Office for
Project Services (UNOPS), the UN Environment
Program (UNEP) and the UN
refugee agency (OCHR).
Trebucq said the financial resources
will also be used for crucial recovery
efforts to immediately assist citizens to
regain their footing.
“This Global Fund appeal will mobilize
international solidarity to enhance
our efforts”, he said.
The UN said this crisis comes as St.
Vincent and the Grenadines is recovering
from its largest COVID-19 surge
amid the pandemic, the region’s worst
Dengue outbreak in recent history and
a new deadly hurricane season.
Meanwhile, UN Emergency Relief
Coordinator Mark Lowcock announced
the allocation of US$1 million from the
UN’s Central Emergency Respond Fund
(CERF) to urgently assist affected people,
especially those who have had to be
evacuated.
The UN said it stood “in deep solidarity”
with St. Vincent and the Grenadines
after devastating volcanic eruptions.
“This crisis comes at the most difficult
time, as the world is grappling with
the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
and ahead of the hurricane season”,
said UN Secretary-General António
Guterres in a statement issued by his
spokesperson.
“The Secretary-General commends
the local response efforts underway and
reiterates the full support of the United
Nations”, said Stéphane Dujarric.
Jeffries, Meeks
request aircraft to
transport relief to
St. Vincent
UN launches $29.2M appeal for volcano-stricken St. Vincent