Media Center

Press Release

OAS Delivers $125,000 in Financial Assistance to Five Central American and Caribbean Countries Affected by Hurricanes

The Organization of American States (OAS) today made an official contribution of $125,000 from the Inter-American Emergency Aid Fund (FONDEM) to five countries of the region (Belize, Costa Rica, Haiti, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) that were affected by hurricanes Tomas and Richard over the last few weeks.

During an official ceremony at Organization headquarters in Washington, DC, in which each country received $ 25,000, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza said the “impact caused by these disasters remind us of the need to deal with this matter in a comprehensive way, not only from the point of view of relief, but from that of the whole strategy we have in our region. I would not say this is a warning, because we've had many warnings, but we must consider that there are more phenomena of this kind every year, that they are stronger and their effects are longer lasting, and that the damages are worse.”

The head of the hemispheric organization, who witnessed the damages caused by rains and mudslides during his visit last weekend to Costa Rica, concluded that "the FONDEM contribution is symbolic because it is certainly not enough to cover the damages caused by these disasters or fulfill the needs of those affected by them, but it is evidence of the commitment of the Organization to help its Member States at the time of greatest need.”

The Permanent Representatives of the beneficiary countries expressed their appreciation to the OAS and the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) for their support and quick response, which is an expression of solidarity with the thousands of people affected. The Permanent Representatives present were Nestor Mendez, of Belize; Duly Brutus, of Haiti; Michael Louis, of Saint Lucia; La Celia A. Prince, of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; and José Enrique Castillo, of Costa Rica. They also commented on the impact these hurricanes have had on their countries, the rise in their frequency, the importance of counting on support from the community, and the need to prioritize the threat of natural disasters within the OAS while working together to address them effectively.

FONDEM was established for the purpose of supporting the political role of the OAS in matters pertaining to emergency aid, and to express the solidarity of the Organization’s Member States by participating in the coordination of aid when faced with natural disasters in the hemisphere. The Fund provides social, humanitarian, material, technical and financial aid, in kind and through services, to any Member State threatened or affected by a natural disaster or in an emergency situation.

A photo gallery of the event is available here.

For more information, please visit the OAS Website at www.oas.org.

Reference: E-424/10