UN Official Reports Complete Devastation In Carriacou Following Hurricane Beryl

The island of Carriacou in Grenada has been severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl, according to a senior UN official. Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, described the devastation as total, affecting the entire population of Carriacou.

Hurricane Beryl is noted as the strongest hurricane ever recorded in June in the Atlantic Ocean. Initially a tropical depression, it quickly escalated to a Category 4 storm and briefly reached Category 5 status with winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph). On Friday morning, it made landfall in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is expected to hit southern Texas on Monday.

Countries near and far are sending aid to Carriacou. A French ship was scheduled to arrive later in the day, along with assistance from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago. Springett stated, "We have a large outpouring of international response. It is really an international effort, and the UN is really proud to be a part of this."

Dennis Zulu, Resident Coordinator for Jamaica and the Bahamas, echoed this sentiment via video link from the Bahamas. He highlighted that the UN is coordinating with Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to ensure a coherent regional response. "We are poised to mount a coordinated humanitarian response with the international development partner community," he added.

Detailed damage assessments are ongoing in Jamaica and other island nations supported by Zulu's office. He reported that damage is widespread and affects people from all walks of life, especially those in rural Jamaica. The southern parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, and Saint Elizabeth have been particularly hard hit.

Zulu also mentioned that the Government of Jamaica has implemented an effective response plan supported by the UN and partners. This includes shelters for those who lost their homes. Other critical needs include clean drinking water, communication access, data services, and livelihood support.

Complicated Crisis

Springett described the situation as a "very complicated crisis" due to severe logistical challenges. Four days after the hurricane struck, roads remain impassable and communications were only restored last night. He explained that rough seas initially made it nearly impossible to reach Carriacou. Additionally, air control towers are out of service, limiting visibility for flights.

"Directly after the hurricane, the seas were exceptionally rough," Springett said. "Even when things get to the airport, there are no roads to access the goods."

Pledge for Children

The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that over 650,000 people – including 150,000 children – across Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tobago were affected by Hurricane Beryl. Many have lost their homes and are now housed in temporary shelters.

UNICEF had pre-positioned life-saving supplies before the storm hit and is now mobilising additional supplies and funds for relief efforts.

Humanitarian teams continue ramping up support across affected Caribbean communities. The international collaboration aims to provide immediate relief while planning long-term recovery efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Beryl's devastation.

With inputs from WAM