Hurrican Ivan strikes Caribbean
Image courtesy of USAID
14 September, 2004
Hurricane Ivan was classified as a category 4 hurricane when it first
affected Grenada on 7 September, bringing sustained winds of 115 miles per hour.
It is reported that 17 people died on Grenada and approximately 90 percent of
the country's homes sustained damage. 60 people were hospitalised. Of the 90,000
people on the island nation, approximately 60,000 were made temporarily
homeless.
The Cayman Islands have been severely affected. 95% of homes have suffered
roof damage. Contact is still extremely difficult with the island authorities
and 25% of Grand Cayman is under water. The sewage system is flooded and there
has been no power since Saturday.
Hilary Benn made an oral statement in the House of Commons on 14 September, explaining that the Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office had been working closely together to ensure that HMS Richmond and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Ruler were available, equipped and in position to provide immediate assistance to the region. Hilary's statement accessible from the links section
General UK response
The Ministry of Defence, the Department for International Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been working closely together to ensure that HMS Richmond and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Ruler were available, equipped and in position to provide immediate assistance.
In Grenada HMS Richmond and Royal Fleet Auxiliary Wave Ruler provided a party of 48 sailors to clear debris and undertake the most urgent repairs, including restoring electricity supplies to the hospital. They also provided medical staff, delivered medicines, offered basic air traffic control for the island and helped re-establish the island's Emergency Operations Centre.
A helicopter was made available to the Prime Minister and officials for aerial surveillance of the island to help with initial damage assessment.
DFID response
- On 10 September, DFID responded to a request from the Pan American Health Organisation and made a contribution of £83,422 (US$150,000) to support the cost of sending emergency personnel to the region. This was to enable them to carry out disease monitoring and control measures and provide urgently needed medical supplies.
- DFID flew 140 rolls of plastic sheeting for 1,400 families and 11,000 jerry cans from Miami to Grenada on 11 September. The cost of the flight and the relief supplies was about £56,500.
- The Disaster Relief Emergency Fund of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent has given an initial £132,000 to respond to the immediate needs of 10,000 people for the next six months. DFID contributes £220,985 a year to this emergency fund.
- The Governor of the Cayman Islands has requested immediate supplies, including plastic sheeting, cots for small children and water purification equipment. DFID is looking to despatch these by 15 September.
- DFID has sent two humanitarian experts to Jamaica and the Cayman Islands to assess the damage and advise on further action.
BBC
commentary on Hurrican Ivan
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