Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen zamelt al 30.000 euro in voor hulpverlening in Jamaica

Four days after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, the extent of the disaster is becoming increasingly clear. In Jamaica, entire villages and communities have been destroyed, bridges and roads washed away and thousands of homes damaged. 

According to the Jamaican government, 13,000 people are now staying in emergency shelters and 490,000 residents are without electricity. In Cuba, too, the impact has been enormous, with nearly one million homes affected, 200,000 of them severely damaged. Melissa has left dozens dead, although the death toll is likely to rise in the coming days as rescue operations continue and damage is further assessed. Currently, the Red Cross estimates the cost of immediate emergency relief at more than 35 million euros. 

28 tons of emergency relief supplies 

More than 400 shelters have opened in Jamaica, 50 of which are managed by the Jamaican Red Cross. Volunteers in these shelters distribute emergency relief supplies, provide first aid, psychosocial support and support families who lost contact with their relatives to find each other again. The Red Cross is distributing emergency relief supplies such as potable water, hygiene kits, blankets and cleaning kits to thousands of families. A 28-ton charter flight carrying materials for another 1,800 families is currently en route to Jamaica from Panama, along with two containers arriving soon. 

In Cuba, 735,000 people were evacuated from coastal and low-lying areas, while 140,000 were cut off by rising rivers. The Cuban Red Cross has 35,000 volunteers specializing in disaster response, first aid and search and rescue. It has so far rescued nearly 400 people from disaster zones. In addition, teams are preparing to distribute 1,000 emergency relief kits to evacuated families. 

30,000 euros 

"The next few days are crucial for saving lives. Red Cross teams are fully engaged in search and rescue, emergency shelter and distribution of relief supplies," said Belgian Red Cross-Flanders. "We are only now beginning to see the extent of the devastation. To secure the relief operation, it is estimated that more than 35 million euros are needed." 

Dankzij de solidariteit van het publiek heeft Rode Kruis-Vlaanderen tot nu toe bijna 30.000 euro ingezameld. Deze middelen worden ingezet door Rode Kruis-partners op het terrein voor voedselhulp, onderdak, medische zorg, drinkwater en psychosociale steun. Giften blijven welkom via www.rodekruis.be/orkaan-melissa of op BE53 0000 0000 5353 met vermelding ‘Orkaan Melissa’.

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