In the wake of Hurricane Beryl, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), plans to provide $4.5 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to aid recovery efforts in Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
In Jamaica, USAID is allocating $2.5 million to repair homes, address water and sanitation needs, support logistical operations, and supply essential relief items such as clean-up kits, hygiene kits, and tarps. Additionally, market-based assistance will be provided to help affected residents purchase basic household commodities and other necessary items.
Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines will receive a combined total of $2 million, with $1 million allocated to each country. This funding will be used to provide shelter and emergency relief items for thousands of people displaced by storm damage. USAID will also offer market-based assistance to these households, providing critical flexibility in their recovery efforts.
Ahead of Hurricane Beryl’s landfall, USAID pre-positioned relief supplies in the region, deployed eight staff, and activated 25 disaster experts across seven countries to support response efforts.
USAID’s humanitarian teams remain on the ground throughout the Caribbean, working with partners and local governments to assess storm damage, identify humanitarian needs, and support disaster response. USAID’s regional partners are also rapidly evaluating existing programs and adjusting as needed to aid recovery.
This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an above-normal hurricane season. To support hurricane preparedness, USAID is collaborating with NOAA, the United Nations, implementing partners, and local governments to co-develop emergency and evacuation plans, train national disaster response organizations and first responders, and educate vulnerable communities on storm readiness.
Read: Caribbean face billions in damage in Hurricane Beryl’s aftermath
