The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said aid supplies are on the way and emergency teams are supporting government responses in Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti.
Jamaica, food support
In Jamaica, the World Food Program (WFP) has assisted the Government with logistics, communications and cash support, delivering 5,000 food kits, enough to feed 15,000 people for a week.
The situation in the south of the country remains “apocalyptic”with houses submerged, roads blocked and people sleeping on the streets, said Brian Bogart, WFP country director.
Despite this, Mr. Bogart noted that previous preparedness efforts had helped speed up the response, but emphasized that Jamaica’s resilience “must now be supported.”
The UN is deploying emergency medical teams, supporting water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) efforts, providing psychological care and assisting with disease surveillance.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is preparing to send 5.5 tons of humanitarian aid, including health and trauma kits, medical backpacks, tents, water supplies, mosquito nets and personal protective equipment.
More than 284,000 Jamaican children now urgently need support in the areas of health, education, nutrition and protection, said the local team of the local United Nations children’s agency (UNICEF).
“Yesterday we were on our way to Black River in St. Elizabeth, one of the most affected areas, but the Roads were blocked with downed trees and power lines, preventing us from reaching the most affected communities.“said the top UNICEF official on the island, Olga Isaza.
The agency is responding quickly to help the Government and other partners assess needs and deliver pre-positioned supplies, including food, drinking water, medicines and emergency hygiene kits. Additional humanitarian aid is ready to be transported by air.
Cuba, health care
Meanwhile, from its Regional Strategic Reserve in Panama, PAHO has sent 2.6 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba.
The shipment includes emergency kits with medications, medical and surgical supplies sufficient to care for 5,000 people for three months. It also includes chlorine tablets to treat millions of liters of water, along with essential medical and shelter supplies.
U.N. spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said that in eastern Cuba, “preliminary assessments indicate serious damage in Santiago, Holguín, Granma and Guantánamo, including housing, roads and health facilities,” adding that “hundreds of communities remain isolated and access continues to be hampered by damage to road, rail and air transport infrastructure.”
Once land communications are restored, supplies will be sent to the most affected areas in eastern Cuba.
Dujarric said the UN “together with our partners are supporting national authorities with assessments and early recovery plans.”