WFP Thanks the European Commission for Supporting Relief Efforts in Dominica

This Category 5 storm devastated the Caribbean island of Dominica on 18 September 2017, causing significant damage to infrastructure, roads and bridges, and destroying crops, livestock, forests and fishing - leaving thousands of Dominicans in need of food assistance.

“As we complete six months of operation in Dominica, we look back at what has been achieved so far and thank the European Commission for supporting the people of Dominica and the humanitarian community,” said WFP Regional Director, Miguel Barreto.

Financial support from the European Commission’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operation department (ECHO) helped WFP and other relief partners reach people even in the most remote communities.

Funding from the Commission and other donors was invested in scaling up logistics, air service, telecommunications and coordination support to Dominica and the United Nations operation.  This allowed for the distribution of 17 metric tons of High Energy Biscuits among 14,200 persons over a three-day period in the immediate aftermath of the disaster as well as for the dispatch of 760 metric tons of food and non-food items and 450 M3 of roofing material for 15 partners, including the Government, UN agencies and NGOs. 

The WFP Logistics and Emergency Telecommunications Operation in Dominica will end in late March following six months of intensive work led by the national Government and in coordination with other UN agencies and NGOs. Following this emergency phase, WFP will continue its efforts in Dominica and in the region to increase the capacity of Governments to respond to future shocks by improving emergency preparedness, particularly of national social protection systems.

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WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

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For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname@wfp.org):

Norha Restrepo, WFP/Latin America and the Caribbean, Tel. +507 3173900, Mob. +507 66715355