“I
knew my house was going to wash away,” explains Crystal
Clarke holding her baby boy, Brandon, “that’s why
I chose to go to the shelter with my family”. She and
her entire family left Portmore to wait out the storm at the
National Arena in Kingston where approximately a thousand other
people did the same.
Like many of the poorer residents of Kingston, Crystal’s
home is composed of a few boards of wood and some zinc sheets
for roofing. It is the poor who cannot afford proper housing
that are most vulnerable to hurricanes. She is one of an estimated
15,000 residents who sought refuge in the 285 shelters opened
across Jamaica.
Although the eye of Hurricane Ivan just missed the island, the
storm system was so big that it still took the lives of 15 people
and caused extensive damage to infrastructure and property.
The day after Ivan some parts of Kingston looked devastated
with uprooted trees, telephone poles and electricity cables
littering its normally tidy streets. Not one billboard remains
intact.
The Jamaica Red Cross was prepared well before the arrival of
Ivan. It alerted all its 14 branches and estimated 12,000 volunteers.
The vanguard was its 8 Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRT)
composed of about 60 volunteers who are trained in light search
and rescue, first aid and disaster assessment.
They were out earlier last week with megaphones in some of the
most vulnerable communities informing people of the imminent
danger posed by Hurricane Ivan. They also informed residents
the location of their closest community shelter and helped those
who could not make it there on their own with transportation.
“I took a peak outside and what I saw scared me,”
says Shedene Thawe, who also staying at the National Arena shelter
managed by the Jamaican Red Cross. “I want to return home
and get things back in order” she concedes. But many cannot
as their homes have been completely destroyed or are still under
flood waters.
Explains Ferris Ziadie, Chairman of the Kingston and St. Andrew
branch, “The Red Cross continues to manage and administrate
shelters and where necessary provided food, refreshments and
first aid assistance.” In coordination with the Jamaican
Government over 100 of the total shelters across the island
are run by the Jamaica Red Cross. Many are managed by members
of the CDRTs.
Goodwill was not shortcoming after Ivan. “In times of
need we are not short of volunteers. They call us to say ‘we
want to help’ because they know about the work of the
Red Cross and because the emblem is so respected in Jamaica”,
says Ferris Ziadie.
Now that the Hurricane has passed some people are returning
home to rebuild their lives. But many have lost everything and
must remain in shelters. The Jamaica Red Cross has begun distributing
food parcels and hygiene items to the vulnerable. For devastated
communities like Portland Cottage whose houses were swept away
by a storm surge, the Jamaica Red Cross has begun to distribute
tarpaulin used to construct temporary shelters or repair roofs
until more permanent solutions are found.
Jamaica is not out of the woods just yet.
Continued relief assistance remains necessary. The Jamaica Red
Cross has begun conducting damage assessment through all its
branches. In addition, its 26 member volunteer Disaster Mental
Health Teams have been deployed in shelters to provide people
affected by the hurricane and volunteers alike with psychosocial
support.
The Jamaica Red Cross is not alone in its efforts. The Federation
has sent a FACT team composed of a relief, logistics, telecom
and head of operations delegate to assist with relief efforts.
The British Red Cross will deploy a member of a Emergency Response
Unit specializing in logistics.
Say Federation FACT Team Officer, Stephen McAndrew, “The
first consignment of aid from the Federation consisting blankets,
tarpaulin sheets, water containers and hygiene kits has arrived
to Jamaica through the Federation’s Pan-American Disaster
Response Unit. We remain committed to assisting the Jamaica
Red Cross with technical and material support so that they can
continue to provide aid to the most vulnerable.”
As the aid continues to arrive and is distributed by the Jamaica
Red Cross, people like Crystal and Shedene can find some assistance
with picking up the pieces in the wake of Hurricane Ivan.
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“I
knew my house was going to wash away,” explains
Crystal Clarke holding her baby boy, Brandon. (p11970)
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People
like Crystal with her family can find some assistance
with picking up the pieces in the wake of Hurricane Ivan
(p11971)
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Red
Cross volunteer talks to people in National Arena shelter
(p11972)
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Red
Cross gets food parcels and hygiene items ready for distribution
(p11973)
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News
