European Commission Gives Millions in Humanitarian Aid for Caribbean Victims of Gustav

The European Commission has donated 2 million Euros in emergency funding to help assist with those in the Caribbean countries most affected by hurricane Gustav.

“…What is clear is that many vulnerable people in these countries are suffering and we need to act quickly to help them.”

The European Commission has donated 2 million Euros in emergency funding to help assist with those in the Caribbean countries most affected by hurricane Gustav.

Commissioner Louis Michel said that “initial reports from Haiti where Gustav first hit, indicate that high winds have caused significant damage and that floods are causing the displacement of some 8,000 people who currently are living in shelters. Access to clean drinking water has also been identified as a major problem. Lack and shortages of food are also being named as problems as the storm has severely affected harvest and livestock.

“We still do not have a complete idea about the damage done by the storm in Jamaica and we are also very worried about the situation in Cuba. When Gustav hit the area over the weekend, it had grown in strength to a category 4 which generally implies a large amount of structural damage. What is clear is that many vulnerable people in these countries are suffering and we need to act quickly to help them.”

The funds will provide emergency help to the communities affected by the storm. Projects eligible for the financing are in Haiti, Cuba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The most essential humanitarian needs to be met include drinking water, food, medical attention, temporary shelter and access to the basic domestic utensils such as cooking pans.