Assistance for flood victims in Belize
5 October 2000

Following an initial assessment of needs and damages in Belize in the wake of Hurricane Keith, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching a preliminary appeal for 1.7 million Swiss francs to assist 9,500 people over the next four months.

The funds will be used not only to provide food, emergency relief supplies and medical assistance to flood victims, but will also serve to finance a second, rehabilitation phase. This component will include distributing seeds and tools to farmers, helping families rebuild homes that are wind- and flood-resistant, improving the training of Red Cross volunteers and developing emergency telecommunications systems.

Thousands of people were evacuated to shelters when flood waters rose more than two metres above normal levels, destroying houses and roads. Although tallies are far from complete, to date, one person is reported dead, 26 injured and three missing. Hundreds of cases of diarrhoea and upper respiratory infections have been registered. Dozens of Belize Red Cross volunteers and staff have been distributing food, blankets and mattresses to flood victims over the past four days. They are also providing hot meals and first aid services. The Belize Red Cross, working in cooperation with the government's National Emergency Management Office, is completing damage assessments and preparing a plan of action to help those left most destitute. One of its priorities will be to reach remote, and so far inaccessible, areas, as soon as four-wheel drive vehicles can become available.

The International Federation released 120,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund and sent in a four-member team on 3 October to support the Belize Red Cross relief operation. An American Red Cross team arrived in Belize on 4 October, bringing a donation of some 40,000 Swiss francs.

As soon as ongoing needs assessments have been completed, a final appeal will be issued. Two main concerns remain. One is that although Hurricane Keith was downgraded to a tropical storm, it is back up to hurricane force, and the second is that tropical storm Olivia is gaining in strength and bringing torrential rains to Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico, already affected by Keith.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

Guatemala: Xavier Castellanos, Regional Information delegate
Tel : (502) 337 1686

Santo Domingo Victoria Molina, Information officer
Tel : (1 809) 686 9412

Belize: Doug Reimer, Federation team leader,
at Belize Red Cross Tel : (501 2) 73319

Geneva: Marie-Françoise Borel, Information officer:
Tel : (41 22) 730 4346
Tel : (41 79) 217 3345

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.