SIMPSON BAY--Emergency response organisation Red Cross said this week that some 14,000 homes in St. Maarten were affected by the passing of Hurricane Irma. The organisation continues to survey and gather relevant data and added that the number might increase in the coming weeks.
In an interview with The Daily Herald this week, Red Cross coordinator of all activities in St. Maarten Michel La Haye said the group is working hard to get food and water to vulnerable groups in Middle Region, Sucker Garden, Dutch Quarter and many other neighbourhoods.
Food coupons have been distributed and honoured the next day, said La Haye. The Netherlands Red Cross has been active in St. Maarten since Hurricane Irma and continues collecting funds in the Netherlands for the island.
“You can see real change and people are trying to make the best of bad situations,” said La Haye.
Hundreds of volunteers visit households on a daily basis to see how they can help. Tarpaulins were not the first essential items requested by people. “Food and water and after that they asked for tarpaulins. They want to protect their home and try to safeguard their items. We are waiting on a container of tarpaulins to distribute to the people,” said La Haye.
The relief organisations have given out some 10,000 tarpaulins to persons in need.
“For the next weeks we will focus on gathering data and working with Government to give them information about affected families. The Netherlands Red Cross did collect close to 15 million euros through a fundraiser there and we will put this money to good use,” said La Haye.
“There will be an account opened on the island and the Red Cross will establish social programmes in collaboration with Government. Some 120 persons from the cadastre in the Netherlands are looking at the many roofs in St. Maarten via satellite in order to make an assessment of what roofs are the best to build to withstand heavy winds. This way we can tell the Government what is good and what is bad.”
Logistics and communications are the biggest challenges for the Red Cross group. “Flat tires, fuel for vehicles and re-supply of stocks are just a few to mention. We do have fuel now, but it was a challenge in the beginning. Communications was an issue as we tried to make contact with almost everybody, but due to both systems being down it was a challenge.
“We are in a better position now and we are working in groups. There are volunteers that go from home to home and we also have specialists who offer their expertise in their respective fields. This is really a collective effort of nine Red Cross organisations,” he added.
The Red Cross applauds the port for opening and bringing in containers that will supply the population with food for those who can afford it.
“Those who can’t afford it is who the Red Cross will continue to provide food and water for. GEBE is doing what they can to get water in all districts, but there are some neighbourhoods that do not have water and those people are in need of water and food,” said La Haye.
He said the Red Cross is working with food suppliers to make packages while waiting for its supply from overseas.
La Haye, who is the coordinator of Red Cross Aruba, also said, “There is a local Red Cross chapter that does a great job already, but members did get affected by the hurricane and that is why clubs from surrounding islands are assisting the local chapter.”
Red Cross volunteers also focus on medical care and helping to clean up damaged homes. Three experts have been busy locating missing persons, working down the list of some 200 persons who have been reported missing.
