KINGSTON, Jamaica – The Government of Jamaica, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard, will be providing assistance to the people of Haiti, following the devastation of the country by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Haiti, regarded as the poorest in the region, has been consistently battered by the season’s hurricanes, which have left over 600-people dead and thousands homeless and destitute.
Supplies were dispatched by the JDF Friday, Sept 12, from the Coast Guard headquarters at HMJS CAGWAY, Port Royal. The JDF Coast Guard, will be transporting supplies of blankets, mattresses, tents, first aid kits, lanterns, generators, plastic sheetings, water containers, and ready to eat meals. The operation will be co-ordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representing the Office of the Prime Minister and ODPEM. ODPEM will be sending a three-man mission to Haiti, to oversee the operation.
Jamaica’s response for assistance to the Haitians, is in keeping with its mandate under the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) regional response mechanism, where member countries of the Agency, offer aid in the event of a disaster.
Meanwhile, the six-member team which was dispatched to the Turks and Caicos Islands earlier this week, to provide support in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, returned to Jamaica Thursday, Sept. 11.(JIS)
