The Caribbean should have a clearer picture of what is happening in St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) within the next four days, following the April 9 eruption of the La Soufriere volcano.
This is because a detailed Damage Sector Assessment Team from the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is expected to arrive in the volcanic island.
Speaking during a press conference this morning, Executive Director of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley, said SVG’s Emergency Operations Centre had started collating statistics on what was happening in the country, and the numbers impacted following last Friday’s eruption.
To date, she said statistics indicated that 20,000 people were displaced, and 3,984 were staying in 87 public shelters. However, she noted that registration conducted today indicated that 2,048 persons were staying with 446 families.
“But the process is ongoing. At the request of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, CDEMA mobilised a detailed damage sector assessment team, which is going,” she said.
Ms. Riley explained that the team would provide an assessment or “snap-shot” of where certain key sectors were at this stage.
She noted that the team, led by the CDEMA Coordinating Unit, would have a consolidated picture with respect to the state of affairs, and get a deeper understanding of the evolving needs of the country, within a four-day period.
The Executive Director also thanked regional agencies for providing support teams and participating in the assessment process.