Prime Minister of The Bahamas and IDB President sign emergency financing for hurricane Irene
Resources to support efforts for humanitarian assistance
NEW YORK – The Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of The Bahamas, the Right Honourable Hubert A. Ingraham, and Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno signed today a grant for emergency humanitarian assistance to mitigate the impact of hurricane Irene.
The US$200,000 grant will support the Government of The Bahamas’ efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to the population most affected by the natural disaster that hit The Bahamas in late August.
Although Irene affected all islands in the country, the greatest impacts occurred in the Southeastern and Central Bahamas. Several communities were flooded and battered by high winds, leaving homes and government buildings including health clinics, schools, police stations and other facilities with severe structural damage. In some areas, power and telecommunications lines were downed and roads inundated with flood water. Approximately 1383 persons occupied 22 shelters throughout the island chain. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno (right) are pictured signing an agreement for a grant of $200,000 for emergency humanitarian assistance to mitigate the impact of hurricane Irene. (Photo K. Quincy Parker)
The IDB assistance will support efforts to provide relief, including food supplies, clothing, potable water, medicines and materials for temporary shelter needs among other relief items, to the affected populations in the islands of Eleuthera, Cat Island, Long Island, Rum Cay, Acklins, Crooked Island and Mayaguna.
Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham and Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno (right) exchange a handshake following their signing of an agreement for a grant of $200,000 for emergency humanitarian assistance to mitigate the impact of hurricane Irene. (Photo K. Quincy Parker)
The grant agreement was signed after a bilateral meeting held at the IDB President’s office in Washington, D.C., during the visit of Prime Minister Ingraham.
The IDB supports The Bahamas in four priority areas: improving inter- and intra-island transport services in the archipelago and relieving traffic congestion in New Providence; diversifying the energy mix and building a financially sustainable electricity sector; achieving a more efficient level of water and sanitation services and coverage; and promoting institutions that foster the private sector and its support by the government.
