UNDP ready to support the Caribbean to recover from Hurricane Beryl

Michelle Muschett, UN Assistant Secretary-General and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean has pledged the organization's support for the Caribbean following the devastation caused by Hurricane Beryl in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada and Jamaica.

“We are deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life, the impact on livelihoods and infrastructures as well as the suffering caused to communities by this hurricane. UNDP remains in solidarity with the Caribbean people, and we stand ready to support the governments and communities with immediate critical needs as they begin to recover from this event.” 

In a statement, by UNDP, the organization commits to deploying personnel to support national and regional emergency management authorities for relief and recovery efforts in the region.

UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

Preliminary reports indicate that Carriacou, Grenada, and some Grenadine islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are among the worst affected so far, with widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, including telecommunications, and at least one death. Meanwhile, Barbados experienced damage to coastal infrastructure and significant property losses in the marine sector. Limya Eltayeb, UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean shared details on the actions being taken in her Area of Responsibility.

“We stand in solidarity with the affected people and communities across the Eastern Caribbean. Our team has been on high alert monitoring the progress and impact of the storm, and we are ready to quickly mobilize the necessary resources and expertise in disaster relief and recovery,”

Read the statement posted by this office here.

UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica

Preliminary reports from Jamaica indicate that two persons are dead, with widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Telecommunications and electricity supply have also been significantly impacted, affecting hundreds of thousands. In the Cayman Islands, assessments are still underway to determine the scale of the impact. Kishan Khoday, UNDP Resident Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda, Belize, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands, stated:

“The UNDP Multi Country Office (MCO) in Jamaica remains in touch with national authorities to ascertain immediate needs and to deploy technical, financial and in-kind resources for disaster response and recovery in cooperation with our sister UN agencies and other regional and international partners. Beyond immediate needs, UNDP remains available to help advance climate adaptation programming and disaster risk and resilience interventions in an era of increasingly frequent and intense storm systems.”

Read the statement posted by this office here.

UNDP Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten

Trinidad & Tobago experienced heavy showers and strong winds, with some flash flooding in flood-prone areas, fallen trees and some coastal damage particularly in Tobago. T&T was spared from the brunt of Beryl, and the MET Service has since discontinued the Adverse Weather Alert for both islands and surrounding coastal waters.  

Ugo Blanco, Resident Representative for UNDP T&T, Aruba, Curacao and Sint Marteen, stated: 

“Trinidad and Tobago was fortunate to have been spared the worst of Hurricane Beryl. Our hearts go out to our Caribbean neighbors who have been severely impacted. Thanks to the support of the EU, UNDP looks forward to continue collaboration with and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, to strengthen national capacities for Early Warning systems and disaster preparedness. Together, we must work to build stronger and more resilient communities in the face of the ever-increasing threat of extreme weather events.” 

Read the statement posted by this office here.

Beryl is the second named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season - which was forecast to be a very active one. Ocean temperatures, already elevated due to climate variability and change, have been further increased by the 2023-24 El Niño phenomenon. From a period of intense drought, we are expected to transition to a stronger-than-normal hurricane season. This season, 20-25 storms are forecasted, of which 8-12 could become hurricanes. As this unprecedented hurricane season is getting started, UNDP will continue supporting the region in prevention, preparedness, and recovery.

Prevention and preparedness: Keys to an active hurricane season 2024

Luis Gamarra Tong, Risk Reduction and Recovery Programme Specialist at UNDP Regional Centre for Latin America and the Caribbean has written a blog on preparing for the 2024 hurricane season titled: Prevention and preparedness: Keys to an active hurricane season 2024.

In preparation for this season, UNDP monitors the situation through the Regional Office and its Country Offices. It will disseminate recently updated action protocols and strengthen anticipatory action capacities in partnership with governments.

Read the blog post here.

About UNDP

UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated lasting solutions for people and planet.