The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season ended without major local effects. Regrettably, not every region can say that, particularly not the twice-hard-hit areas in Central America and the US Gulf states. It is also something to be extra thankful for this year because any significant impact would have made an already bad situation due to the COVID-19 crisis even worse.
Moreover, homes damaged by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017 are being rebuilt up to now, a process in many cases delayed by the pandemic. As a matter of fact, the Red Cross only just completed its related programme using means of the Dutch-sponsored Trust Fund by fixing about 182 roofs, as offshoot of the 2018/2019 home repair project with money raised in the Netherlands after the natural disaster, from which approximately 675 households benefitted.
Mind you, there continue to be members of the community who have nowhere decent to sleep or are living under tarpaulins and it is important to not only keep assisting these inhabitants but seek durable solutions for their lack of suitable accommodations. The holidays period is one of giving where possible and plenty persons could certainly use a helping hand at this time.
If in Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba that fall directly under The Hague the number of welfare dependents increased by an average 14 per cent, the hike is probably considerably bigger in the three Dutch Caribbean countries including St. Maarten. These are the kind of people that those still able to celebrate the end-of-year festivities should keep in mind while doing so.
