UNITED NATIONS, CMC—The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has reiterated his solidarity with Caribbean countries affected by Hurricane Beryl. The international body is releasing four million US dollars from its emergency response fund to kickstart relief efforts.
The UN has reported that Hurricane Beryl, the most powerful hurricane in history to form in June in the Atlantic Ocean, unleashed unprecedented devastation as it swept through Grenada, St. Vincent, the Grenadines, and Jamaica.
Initially a tropical depression, Beryl rapidly intensified into a Category 4 hurricane and briefly reached Category 5 status, with winds up to 150 mph, leaving a trail of death and destruction.
Guterres expressed his “deep dismay” at the hurricane’s destruction and reiterated the United Nations’ unwavering support for the affected nations.
“The Secretary-General, in coordination with the affected nations, is considering launching an appeal to address humanitarian needs arising from the impact of Hurricane Beryl,” said his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.
He said the fur million dollars will be available from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to Grenada, Jamaica, St. Vincent, and the Grenadines.
Dujarric said UN humanitarian officials in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada are working with local officials to assist with damage assessment and response.
He said teams from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are also in Barbados, supporting efforts in the country and the eastern Caribbean.
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