Hurricane Dean: UN stands ready to help affected countries in the Caribbean
The United Nations has deployed a team of disaster assessment and coordination experts to the Caribbean to assist
countries hit by Hurricane Dean which has left a trail of death and destruction in its rampage past St. Lucia, the
Dominican Republic, Dominica, Martinique, Haiti, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands and on towards the coast of Mexico.
“The United Nations stands ready to support relief efforts with other measures, including the release of emergency
funds,” spokesperson Michele Montas told a news briefing, adding that the world organization was is in close contact
with the Governments of affected countries.
In a statement, she said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was deeply saddened to learn of the human and economic losses
brought on by Hurricane Dean in the Caribbean, and extended condolences to those who lost family and friends.
Military and police units of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) joined local police in helping to evacuate
some 2,000 people living near the shore. In addition, the mission helped warn the local people of the eventual health
and other risks and necessary preventive measures in the wake of the powerful storm.
Also in Haiti, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Saturday sent drugs to support 2000 people for three months to Jacmel
Hospital. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health and Population will be in charge of
distributing the drugs based on emerging needs, according to a situation update produced by the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
ENDS