UK gives new volcano relief for St Vincent and the Grenadines

The UK will give further support to provide food, clean water, and other essential items, for an estimated 13,000 people affected by the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano.

The UK will give further support to provide food, clean water and other essential items, for an estimated 13,000 people affected by the eruption of the La Soufrière volcano in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

The new £550,000 ($695,000 USD) contribution takes the total UK funding to over £800,000 ($1m USD) since the eruption began on April 9th and will be delivered via the World Food Programme (WFP).

These funds will deliver urgent cash and voucher assistance to help families displaced by the volcano meet their immediate nutrition, hygiene and other essential needs for three months.

This announcement follows the UK’s earlier commitment of £200,000 ($278,000 USD) to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) which enabled the immediate mobilisation of regional support teams and urgent supplies for the initial relief effort.

Prior to the explosive eruption, the UK also provided £51,000 ($70,000 USD) for aerial helicopter surveillance and equipment installations to help analyse changes in the volcano and boost early warning for a timely evacuation.

“We stand united with the people of St. Vincent and Grenadines at this difficult time. We have all been tremendously moved by the scenes of devastation and human misery that this volcano has wrought,” said Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

“I am pleased that the UK stepped up to provide vital support to the CDEMA regional response within 24 hours of the first eruption. This further support will provide urgent assistance to those most affected by the impact of the volcano, including those currently displaced and living in shelters,” he added.

Alongside this emergency support, the UK has an ongoing programme of development assistance to St Vincent and Grenadines’ totalling over £40m (approximately US$55.5m). This will make a critical contribution to the country’s longer-term recovery from the eruption and includes funding for critical infrastructure projects, upgrading health care facilities, supporting disaster management systems, green energy and youth employment programmes.

The UK also continues to support St Vincent and the Grenadines and the wider Caribbean region in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.