Focus Local News News International and regional agencies aiding St Vincent Barbados Today13/04/20210108 views The World Bank has disbursed US$20 million to support the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ response to the crisis posed by the La Soufrière volcano eruption. The explosive eruption began on April 8 and has required the evacuation of 20,000 people from the high-risk zones around the volcano, both to other parts of Saint Vincent and surrounding countries. Explosions are continuing, and the falling ash is causing air quality concerns and interruptions in electricity and water supply. “Our hearts are with the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines during this crisis,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “We are committed to supporting the response efforts at this critical time when the country faces this new disaster while already managing the social and economic effects of the pandemic.” The funds are disbursed from a contingent credit line from the World Bank, known as the Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat-DDO), approved in June 2020. The Cat-DDO instrument is designed to provide immediate liquidity to support a country’s efforts to recover from disasters triggered by natural hazards or a public health emergency. In recent years, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has been making efforts to strengthen its preparedness and capacity to respond to disasters. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is also providing emergency assistance in response to the volcanic eruptions. The rapid crisis funds will help provide lifesaving humanitarian supplies like shelter, sanitation kits and protective equipment. Urgently needed technical experts will support relief efforts on the ground, support emergency telecommunications, and restore critical lifeline facilities, like transport links The United Kingdom has provided an initial £200,000, via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to support the regional response, through the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). The United Kingdom will continue to work with the CDEMA and other agencies to assess the need for further support. On April 8 Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves ordered an immediate evacuation of people living in the most at-risk areas on St Vincent. There are no plans for further evacuations. Travel to and from Barbados has also been affected, due to the resultant ash cloud. Barbados Grantley Adams International Airport is currently closed. The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is also mobilising its resources and expertise to assist St Vincent and the Grenadines. Consistent with its traditional emergency assistance protocols, The UWI will activate a two-phased approach to the response. The first phase is a rapid response in the deployment of relief aid and experts to assist in the areas of greatest need, in close coordination with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and its National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO). The second phase will concentrate on the mobilisation of expertise in the rehabilitation response. The University has coordinated three primary ways to give: 1/ The UWI Alumni Online donation platform https://www.uwi. edu/alumnionline/RallyRoundSVG 2/ The UWI Open Campus Bank Accounts [EC$] CIBC Open Campus Disaster Relief Fund Account Number: 106933692 SWIFT Code: FCIBAGAG Address: Old Parham Road Branch, P.O. Box 28 St. John’s, Antigua Tel: 1-268-480-5000 Fax: 1-268-480-5140/1 [US$] CIBC Account Number: 10424000 Correspondent Bank: Wells Fargo Bank, New York SWIFT Code: PNBPUS3NNYC ABA Code: 026005092 Beneficiary Bank: First Caribbean International Bank (Cayman) Limited SWIFT Code: FCIBKYKYBeneficiary Account Name: The University of the West Indies Beneficiary Account Number: 10424000 3/ The American Foundation for The UWI (for North American donations ONLY) Pledge via mobile phone by texting DONATE (all caps) to 1-864-402-8943. Send a cheque by mail – Make payable to American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI). Kindly write St Vincent Donation in the memo section. Mail to: The Director American Foundation for The University of the West Indies (AFUWI) 767 Third Avenue, Suite 301 New York, NY 10017 (PR)