Aid to Neighborhoods Affected by Hurricane Irene Reaches $4.3 Million Pesos for Armed Forces Operations and Food Programs

Aid to Neighborhoods Affected by Hurricane Irene Reaches $4.3 Million Pesos for Armed Forces Operations and Food Programs
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo 9/6/2011

Under orders from Dominican President Dr. Leonel Fernández, the State-run Food Centers and the Ministry of the Armed Forces jointly carried a series of simultaneous operations in neighborhoods and municipalities in the province of San Cristobal.

Their relief operations covered medical needs, food necessities and school supplies to thousands of families in the various sections of the provinces and municipalities of Cambita, Villa Altagracia and San Cristóbal.

Their relief operations covered medical needs, food necessities and school supplies to thousands of families in the various sections of the provinces and municipalities of Cambita, Villa Altagracia and San Cristóbal.

Among the neighborhoods which benefitted from the operations was Barrio Nuevo, where residents´ homes were seriously affected by floods of water and mud.

This information was released by Nicolás Calderón, Administrator of the State-run Food Centers, Armed Forces Minister Lieutenant General Joaquín Virgilio Pérez Feliz and Governor of the Province, Gamalier Motas.

They announced that, by direct order from President Leonel Fernández, the Government is offering food assistance to 38 municipal sectors in San Cristobal, including: El barrio Puerto Rico, Yaguate, Villa Mercedes, Liceo Musical, Iglesia de la Piscina, Jeringa, Las Flores, El Polideportivo, Zona Verde, Escuela Juan Pablo Duarte, Los Molinos, Pozo de Nigua, Camugi and La Cita.

Aid is also being delivered to Cambita, Las Tablitas, Guama, Jeremías, El Payo, Comía, Pueblo Nuevo, Kinkong Collado, El Pueblito, Caobal, Regocijo, 15 de Agosto and Cajo, among other areas.

They noted that on this occasion the investment in aid relief reached $4,300,000 Dominican pesos and is directed to families affected by the growing rivers, streams and gullies.

In this aid disbursement more than 18,000 rations of hot meals were handed out, 2,000 rations of dried goods, 2,000 book bags, thousands of mascots, pens, pencil sharpeners, erasers and other essential school supplies.

Also, at a cost of $499,689.72 pesos, some 450 special tool kits were given to the same number of military officers who participated in the rescue and clean-up operation of Barrio Nuevo which was severely affected by flooding and rising river water provoked by Hurricane Irene.

Administrator of the State-run Food Centers, Nicolás Calderón, reported that food delivery operations are still underway in the shelters and refugee centers being provided by the Civil Defense forces in the municipalities of Villa Altagracia and Cambita Garabito, parts of the provinces of San Cristobal, San José de Ocoa, Barahona, Azua and other places in the southern region of the country.