Today another round of hurricane relief donations were handed over to CEMO, this time it's from the United Nations Development Program. It's a $50,000 US dollar contribution of mattresses and building supplies for those who lost their homes. The donation will be split in 2 parts, half of the donation will go to storm victims in the city and the UN Refugee Agency UNHCR will distribute the other half in Valley of Peace and Armenia. Today we found out more at a short handing over ceremony at Militia Hall.
Phillip Willoughby - City Councilor - CEMO
"We got mattresses, windows, Plycem and other 2x4 type lumbers and so forth to assist with home repairs basically."
Courtney Weatherburne
"You know that several organizations or international agencies have contributed. We know that we need all the help we can get because it is still not enough but how long or how far will this donation go in terms in reaching out our hurricane survivors or victims?"
Phillip Willoughby - City Councilor - CEMO
"Well, what I counted so far with the windows, I think it's about 150 plus windows. That's a lot of windows to be issuing to affected persons. You know that in itself will go a long way. In terms of the plycem etc. that will also go a very long way because sidings of homes and roofs and interior was affected and damaged, again that relief will go a very long way."
Giulia Battistella - Protection Officer, UHNCR
"We have carried out a needs assessment in this area but has been more in charge of identifying the needs in the area of Valley of Peace and Armenia, where there is a higher presence of our own population of concerns as asylum seekers refugees living here in Belize."
Courtney Weatherburne
"So, could you say approximately how many families will benefit and where or what specific areas you guys will be going in to actually give out these mattresses and other materials."
Giulia Battistella - Protection Officer, UHNCR
"So, it would be around, for what we have identified around 100 families more or less. We are coordinating together with UNDP with distribution and with NEMO as well that is why we are today and on Monday and Tuesday we will also work on other areas continuing this distribution with trucks and volunteers."
Courtney Weatherburne
"It's mostly in the city right?"
Giulia Battistella - Protection Officer, UHNCR
"Today yes and Ladyville as well but then Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and probably next week we will target Armenia and Valley of Peace."
"This is an obedient response. We are also looking and trying to help families in the longer terms. We have noticed that a lot of people have lost a lot of ways to support themselves because their fields have been destroyed so their harvest that was the main source of income has been destroyed so, we are also looking into providing school material for kids that have to go to school. We are looking into maybe coordinating some support that can produce income for the longer term."
As you heard, the UNHCR team will be giving out its half of the supplies in Valley of Peace and Armenia next week.
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