Jamaica to the Aid of Cuba with Hurricane Relief Supplies
September 22, 2008The Full Story
The Government of Jamaica through the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) will be providing emergency relief supplies and food items to the people of Cuba, following the recent onslaught of Hurricanes Gustav and Ike.
Four people were reported to have died and over 1.2-million Cubans were forced to evacuate as a result of Hurricane Ike while over 250,000 were evacuated when Gustav tore across Western Cuba on August 30.
The shipment is expected to leave Jamaica for Santiago this evening at 8:00pm on board a Jamaica Defence Force coast guard vessel leaving from its headquarters at HMJS CAGWAY, Port Royal. The operation is being coordinated by the Jamaica Defence Force coast guard and four representatives of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management.
Supplies were donated to the Government through ODPEM from a number of companies including Nature’s Pure Bottling Company, Island Mist, Jamaica Beverages Limited, Grace Kennedy Company Ltd., Amalgamated Distributors Ltd., H.D. Hopwood Company Ltd., Seprod Limited and Lasco Distributors Limited.
Jamaica has been providing assistance to its neighbours affected by the Hurricanes since the start of the season. Haiti and Turks and Caicos islands have already received aid from the government of Jamaica.