The first major hurricane of the year, Hurricane Beryl, made landfall in the southeast Caribbean on Monday, 1 July 2024, causing widespread damage. Naomi Noel (in blue) returned to her damaged home in Grenada that evening with her mother, two children and niece. The family now have to navigate how to spend the night with no roof over their heads. (UNICEF)
The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, says at least 3 million children in the Caribbean are at risk from the impact of Hurricane Beryl.
In a release on Wednesday, UNICEF says the hurricane has caused damage in Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and St. Lucia.
It says Beryl has damaged safe spaces for children, including homes and schools.
UNICEF’s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Karin Hulshof, says all efforts must be made to prevent deaths and keep children safe.
She says UNICEF’s teams across the Caribbean are ready to support national efforts in providing humanitarian assistance to families in need.
UNICEF says it also supports emergency preparedness efforts throughout the region.
The organisation says it has pre-positioned life-saving supplies in several countries in the Caribbean Basin, including medical and educational kits, essential water supplies and sanitation and hygiene materials.
Key equipment such as high-quality tents will also be deployed as needed.
According to UNICEF, Latin America and the Caribbean is the second most disaster-prone region in the world.
In the Caribbean, 1.9 million people, including half a million children and adolescents, are affected by disasters each year.
This year, UNICEF says it has requested US $12 million to respond to emergencies in Latin America and the Caribbean.
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