Eastern Caribbean: Hurricane Beryl - Situation Report No. 05 (As of 29 July 2024)

This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. It covers the period from 20 to 29 July 2024 and is focused on the impacts in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Beryl’s impact in Jamaica is covered separately.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is facing a severe food insecurity crisis, compounded by the devastating effects of Hurricane Beryl, which resulted in the loss of 98 per cent of banana and plantain production and the destruction of the lobster and fisheries sector.
• Nearly four weeks after Beryl, the number of shelters still open in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines shows the prolonged recovery process and the need for continued support.
• The last United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team member transitioned out of Carriacou, Grenada on 30 July. The team supported the National Emergency Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) in Carriacou.
• By 30 July, the Regional Overview and Planned Response Plan for US$9 million had received approximately US$15.5 million in project proposals from UN agencies, international governmental organizations, and local non- governmental organizations.

2.9K total estimated hygiene kits distributed across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (mainland, Union Island, Mayreau, Canouan)

3.4K total estimated hygiene kits distributed across Grenada (mainland, Carriacou and Petite Martinique)

6.8K total estimated food kits distributed across all affected countries.

19.9K estimated number of people reached through humanitarian interventions across all affected countries.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Nearly a month after Hurricane Beryl, Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are still recovering and focusing on rebuilding and restoring essential services. The Government, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), UN agencies, and international organizations are working together to provide essential services, medical care, and support rebuilding efforts. Both countries face challenges in logistics, resource allocation, and rebuilding to withstand future hurricanes, especially with the peak of hurricane season approaching. Both Governments are prioritizing restarting the economy and improving disaster preparedness while addressing immediate needs and long-term recovery.

Grenada

The Government, supported by international aid organizations, continues to lead the emergency response efforts. These efforts have made progress in restoring basic utilities and clearing debris. However, rebuilding critical infrastructure like roads, schools, and healthcare facilities remains a major challenge.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Relief efforts are focused on meeting the basic needs of the affected population, while planning for long-term recovery and resilience building.

Many people, mainly from the Grenadines, including children, remain displaced and are living in private homes on the mainland. This reliance on private homes suggests that public shelters may not have enough capacity to meet the demand. Several shelters on the mainland are still operational, accommodating many people. Nearly four weeks after the hurricane, the number of shelters still open shows the prolonged recovery process and the need for continued support.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines faces a severe food insecurity crisis. Agriculture Minister Saboto Caesar highlighted this during the 2024 session of the Executive Committee of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The Minister explained to agricultural ministers and officials across the Americas how disasters over the past five years, including COVID-19, volcanic eruptions, severe droughts, and hurricanes, have compounded, culminating in Hurricane Beryl's devastating effects in July. The hurricane destroyed 98 per cent of banana and plantain production and devastated the lobster and fisheries sector, displacing many fisherfolk and producers. In response, the Government seeks parliamentary support for direct income assistance to producers over the next 23 months, aiming to restore full operational capacity by late 2024. Caesar called for technical assistance from IICA and its Member States to aid in recovering and rebuilding the agriculture and fisheries sectors, emphasizing the need for ecosystem assessments, seeds, fertilizers, technical personnel, and reconstruction technologies.