Thursday 22 November 2012
Disaster Emergency Relief award to ActionAid UK for post-Hurricane Sandy work in Haiti
Following the passage of Hurricane Sandy through the Caribbean on late October 2012, the Guernsey Overseas Aid Commission received an application from ActionAid UK for Disaster Emergency Relief.
ActionAid UK's application stated:
"Between 24 and 26 October, Hurricane Sandy brought torrential rains and high winds to Haiti, causing widespread flooding and washing away people's homes and farms. As the poorest country in the Americas and still one of the poorest countries in the world, the effects have been disastrous.
As well as the immediate damage caused by the hurricane, the destruction of crops and farms threatens to bring a grave food crisis. People have not only lost their current crops, but have lost seeds and equipment essential for next season's harvest."
ActionAid UK requested a contribution for the Commission towards is emergency response appeal to provide emergency food, shelter and sanitation kits for the poorest and most vulnerable people in Haiti.
In considering the request, the Commissioners were mindful that Haiti is still struggling to recover from the devastating impact of the earthquake which struck the island in 2010. It also noted that ActionAid UK was already actively working in Haiti and so was able to divert its resources to respond to the immediate post-Hurricane Sandy needs without losing sight of the wide rehabilitation work needed.
The Commissioners were also very conscious that because Hurricane Sandy had also hit the eastern seaboard of the United States of America the media attention had largely focused on New York and the surrounding area and this had meant that the devastation which Haiti and other Caribbean Islands had suffered had largely gone unreported. The Commission was concerned that as the damage in Haiti, an already extremely poor and vulnerable country, had not hit the media headlines this may mean that the fund raising efforts of ActionAid UK and other charities working in Haiti would not be as effective as may otherwise have been the case.
Deputy Mike O'Hara, Commission Chairman, said,
"In agreeing to make a donation of £25,000 to ActionAid UK's Haiti appeal, the Commissioners were very conscious that the impact of Hurricane Sandy on Haiti had been felt all the more because the country was already very vulnerable and struggling to rebuild its infrastructure and housing following the massive earthquake in 2010."
"I am sure Islanders will support the Commission's decision to make this donation to assist ActionAid UK's work in Haiti."
