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OAS RESPONDS TO JAMAICA'S FLOOD EMERGENCY

  June 26, 2002

Jamaica's recovery from recent deadly floods today received a $15,000 donation from the Washington-based Organization of American States. Several parishes were ravaged, with unusually heavy rainfall last month leaving a trail of death and destruction.

Assistant Secretary General Luigi Einaudi presented the contribution—from the Organization's Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM)—to Ambassador Seymour Mullings at OAS Headquarters, expressing the Hemisphere's solidarity through this "symbolic contribution for the people of Jamaica."

Noting Jamaica was the 6th OAS country to receive FONDEM assistance so far this year, Einaudi said he was particularly concerned about the vulnerability of the island states in the Caribbean as well as the smaller states. He stressed the need for more effective disaster mitigation mechanisms and said the OAS would look to see what further assistance it could give in the field of disaster mitigation.

Ambassador Mullings conveyed the "whole-hearted" appreciation of the government and people of Jamaica for the contribution to the island's disaster relief fund, and gave an update on the recovery situation. Noting how extensive the damage was, and that the recovery effort will require a considerable amount of money, the Ambassador expressed particular regret at the loss of lives.

Reference: E-126/02