The Caribbean: Hurricane Beryl - Flash Update No. 03 (as of 04 July 2024)

KEY MESSAGES

• Hurricane Beryl has affected several Caribbean countries and territories and continues charging towards Belize and Mexico.

• Local authorities in affected islands are facing access and communications challenges in conducting rapid needs assessments; information remains limited.

• The UN has released US$4 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica, while the European Union has approved US$486,600 in humanitarian aid for SVG and Grenada.

• UN Emergency Technical Teams (UNETTs) in Barbados and Jamaica are active and coordinating support with their respective governments and CDEMA, while OCHA is coordinating with CDEMA and regional partners, with UN Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC) teams arriving in Barbados and Jamaica.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Hurricane Beryl affected nine CDEMA Participating States, as well as the Cayman Islands, and is on track to potentially strike Belize, another Participating State, and reaching the coast of the Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula early 5 July. Local authorities conducted rapid needs assessments, which are currently hampered by access issues. Information gathered on direct path of Beryl is still very minimal at this time, due to downed communication and power infrastructure.

With Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and Grenada at a Level 2 emergency, CDEMA, with support from National Emergency Management Coordinators, the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) and the private sector, has already deployed several teams to affected island.

The UN Secretary-General reiterated his solidarity with countries affected by hurricane Beryl, releasing $4 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund to Grenada, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamaica. The European Union has approved US$486,600 (€450,000) in humanitarian aid for SVG and Grenada, in addition to the more than US$2.16 million (€2 million) already allocated in 2024 in the Caribbean.

First assessments from Grenada indicate 3 deaths and more than 1,600 people are in shelters, a number that is expected to double. More than 98 per cent of the buildings has been severely affected in the Union, Carriacou and Petit Martinique islands, where most of the health facilities are compromised, as well as the terminal building Carriacou airport. Emergency response priorities for SVG are logistics and relief management support (temporary shelters arrangements, warehouse management, transportation), waste management (debris removal and management teams, human waste and domestic waste). Due to telecommunication issues, the full extent of damage in Mayreau and Canouan remains unknown, but similar severe damage is expected. In contrast, Bequia in the northern Grenadines sustained less damage.

The Jamaica UNETT is active and rapid assessments will start on 5 July. Some 159 shelters are activated with about 1,000 people, and more than 400,000 people have been affected by power outages.