Eastern Caribbean: Hurricane Beryl
Situation Report No. 03
As of 14 July 2024
This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with the UN Emergency Technical Team (UNETT) for Barbados and the
Eastern Caribbean. It covers the period from 10 to 14 July 2024 and is focused on the impacts in Grenada and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines. Separate reports will be issued covering Beryl’s impact in Jamaica.
HIGHLIGHTS
•
After two weeks since Hurricane Beryl’s widespread destruction
in the Eastern Caribbean, there is an urgent need to assist with
immediate livelihoods support and restoration of fishing capacity
in the Southern Grenadine Islands and Carriacou and Petite
Martinique to ensure food security over the next three months.
•
The UN and its partners launched a US$9 million Regional
Response Plan for Grenada (US$ 5 million) and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines (US$4 million) targeting 43,000 people with
urgently needed assistance.
•
Health surveillance remains a priority concern given limited
available information, especially regarding shelters in the most
affected areas. With health care staff also among the affected
and ongoing connectivity challenges on the hardest islands, the
ability to conduct surveillance is currently constrained.
•
Reduced emergency shelter capacity has led to overcrowded
living conditions, with five out of eight official shelters in Carriacou
and one of two in Petite Martinique inoperable due to extensive
structural damage.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Questelles town in Saint Andrew
Parish after the passing of Hurricane Beryl. Photo: AsbertNewsNetwork
3.8K
38
$9M
$1M
estimated children affected in
both countries
out of 49 health facilities are
functional in St Vincent and
the Grenadines
funding requirement
for the Regional
Overview and Planned
Response
in XCD grant funding to be
disbursed by the Eastern
Caribbean Central Bank to
each country
SITUATION OVERVIEW
Both countries are moving into a phase of long-term recovery. In Grenada, the initial emergency response has provided
immediate relief to affected populations, with progress in restoring critical infrastructure like roads, electricity, and water
supply in some areas. Communities are now focusing on rebuilding homes. In Saint Vincent, similar work has addressed
immediate needs, but the extensive damage to agricultural sectors in both countries threatens long-term food security.
Efforts are concentrated on repairing schools and healthcare facilities to ensure essential services resume. Both countries
continue to receive support from regional and international partners. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management
Agency (CDEMA) is coordinating efforts to build resilience and reduce future impacts as the hurricane season continues.
The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to
Coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people in humanitarian crises.
We advocate for effective and principled humanitarian action by all, for all.
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 2
Grenada
Reduced emergency shelter capacity has led to overcrowded
living conditions, with five out of eight official shelters in Carriacou
and one of two in Petite Martinique inoperable due to extensive
structural damage. Rain-induced leaks are impairing the
functionality of essential facilities such as kitchens and toilets.
Additionally, water tanks and other critical housing infrastructure
have been destroyed or scattered under debris throughout the
community.
To manage registrations and monitor international actors entering
and leaving the islands, two Reception and Departure Centres
(RDC) were established at the Tyrell Bay port and the Lauriston
Carriacou airport. An On-Site Operations Coordination Centre
(OSOCC) is located in Belair, in front of the Emergency Operating
Centre (EOC) Building, supporting the data collection and analysis
process and coordination of the international response.
Petite Martinque, Grenada. RNAT Meeting with the Prime
Minister, Honourable Dickon Mitchell and CDEMA Programme Manager
Mandela Christian. Photo: GIS Grenada
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Some people on the smaller islands are setting up makeshift
shelters in schools and churches due to damage to emergency
shelters.
Reports suggest that hundreds of animals died during the
hurricane, with residents highlighting that many stray animals and
cattle are now decomposing under piles of debris across the
island.
On Union Island, the destruction of rainwater harvesting systems
has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, leaving many residents
without access to clean water. Most latrines and outhouse
structures are destroyed. Union Island: Leaks at Clifton PreSchool; hospital equipment lost to rain. Canouan: Fishing complex
lacks water, electricity, and infrastructure. Mainland: Two schools
need urgent sanitation rehab; evacuation protocols poorly
understood across SVG.
In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 38 out of 49 assessed health
facilities are functional, but infrastructure damage limits the types Bequia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. IOM distributing some indoor
of health services provided. All health facilities in the Southern tents in emergency shelters. Photo: IOM
Grenadines (Canouan Clinic, Mayreau Clinic, Ashton Clinic,
Clifton Smart Hospital and Clinic) are damaged and currently closed. The hurricane also damaged some medical
refrigerators, compromising vaccines.
Emerging/Priority Needs
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Priority needs include mental health and psychosocial support, additional aid for sectors like tourism and fisheries, and
especially the restoration of livelihoods in agriculture, tourism, and fisheries. Cots for Union Island and labourers are also
critical.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 3
Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs): With over a thousand people
in evacuation centers, there is a need for temporary housing
solutions and essential household items, including bedding,
mosquito nets, solar lights, kitchen sets, and water storage tools.
Medium-term shelter solutions will be needed as schools are set
to reopen in September. Almost all buildings in Canouan are
damaged, and the island is experiencing major water and power
shortages. The affected communities need roofing materials,
tarpaulins, and essential non-food items.
WASH: In other affected areas, there have been reports of water
disruptions. There is a need to improve the bathrooms and
washrooms and provide gender-separated facilities.
Food Security and Livelihoods: Based on assessments so far, the
primary humanitarian needs in the food security sector include
restoring the fishing capacity of artisanal fishermen and value
chain participants, such as those involved in processing,
conservation, and transformation equipment and infrastructure.
There is also a need to supply planting materials to rehabilitate
Union Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With almost 100 per
affected crops, along with inputs for short-cycle crops that provide cent destruction, this is one of the only houses remaining on Union Island
from an elderly man who decided not to evacuate. Credit: Thalia Parkeralternative sources of food and income. Implementing cash
Baptiste
transfers and other mechanisms to help the most vulnerable
fishermen and farmers meet basic needs is essential. Additionally, providing food assistance to the affected population is
crucial.
Health: There is an urgent need to restore health care facilities and services to address potential disease outbreaks and
ensure access to essential medicines.
Grenada
Priority needs across sectors include repairing livestock housing, monitoring for possible disease outbreaks, and
providing food assistance to meet the immediate nutrition needs of affected people.
WASH: Drinking and sanitation water are badly needed, as are jerrycans and water tanks, given that existing water
storage/tanks are scattered and difficult to recover. Shelters need cleaning items, child diapers, adult diapers, and other
hygiene products. Washrooms and bathrooms in these centres should be immediately upgraded to create separate
washing facilities for men and women with sufficient locks.
Health: There is a need to raise public awareness about the risks of communicable and non-communicable diseases,
such as waterborne and vector-borne diseases like dengue. It is essential to support health workers, community leaders,
caregivers, and food handlers to ensure proper food safety practices and prevent foodborne disease outbreaks. Health
facilities must be restored, and healthcare workers need support. Additionally, assessing and addressing the psychosocial
needs of the affected population, especially vulnerable groups like children, is crucial.
Food Security and Livelihood: Priority needs for restoring livelihoods include repairing and replacing fishing boats and
gear, ice machines, and cold storage equipment. There is also a need for planting materials for various crops, cash
transfers to help fishers and farmers meet basic needs, and repairs to livestock housing, along with disease monitoring
and food assistance for immediate nutritional needs. The Ministry of Economic Development, Planning, Agriculture and
Lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and Cooperatives of Grenada requested assistance for land clearing, planting
materials, propagation station rehabilitation, forestry plants, irrigation lines, water tanks, poultry farm building materials,
and technical assistance for damage assessments and a recovery plan for the agriculture and marine resources sectors.
Education: Urgent needs include refurbishing and repairing damaged educational facilities. Care and educational
activities for children of all ages in shelters are essential for their psychosocial support. Additionally, suitable relief and
rehabilitation activities are required to establish classrooms as temporary learning spaces.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 4
FUNDING
Virtual Press Conference with the Prime Minister, Honourable Dickon Mitchell and Prime Minister Ralph E Gonsalves. Photo: UN RCO Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean
The UN and its partners launched a US$9 million Regional Overview and Planned Response for Grenada and Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines to respond to Hurricane Beryl’s aftermath. The plan seeks US$5 million for Grenada and US$4 million
for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to assist about 43,000 people. Addressing urgent needs of 24,000 people in Grenada
and 19,000 in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the plan is based on preliminary estimates and funding projections, to be
reassessed as ongoing assessments face challenges due to damage and power cuts.
The United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), is providing US$2 million
in immediate humanitarian assistance, with US$1 million for each nation. This support will address logistics, clean water,
shelter and cash support. The Monetary Council of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) also disbursed grant
funding for about US$370,00 (EC$1 million) each to Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to support their relief
efforts. The grant aims to facilitate immediate recovery actions, address urgent needs and stabilize affected communities.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
Additional UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams have
travelled from Jamaica to Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to
continue to reinforce existing UNDAC teams on the ground. An additional
environmental expert deployed to Grenada, bring the total to three who are
supporting response and additional stand-alone assessments as part of the
CDEMA-led RNAT.
Several sectors continue to hold meetings to coordinate support for the
response, particularly in Health, WASH, Shelter, and Logistics. On 12 July, a
UN internal protection sector group convened to discuss protection issues and
related concerns and identify opportunities to streamline protection into the
immediate response and the transition to recovery.
A quick snapshot of assessments and deployment teams responding to
Hurricane Beryl can be found here.
UN Women staff packaging hygiene kits in St Vincent and the
Grenadines for distribution. Photo: UN Women MCO
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 5
Education
Needs:
•
•
•
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A number of schools have major damage or are destroyed.
Refurbishing and repairing damaged educational facilities to allow timely reopening
of school before next school year.
Care and educational activities for children of all ages in shelters for their
psychosocial support.
Suitable relief and rehabilitation activities will be required when establishing
classrooms as temporary learning spaces.
3.8K
Total children estimated that
have been impacted.
Response:
•
•
•
•
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UNICEF, CDEMA and the Caribbean Safe School Initiative focal points are supporting rapid assessments in affected
areas.
UNICEF is preparing to ship ECD and recreational kits for students and teachers in Grenada and Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines.
UNICEF is standing by to provide psychosocial support to children in shelters and technical assistance to the Ministry
of Education and Department of Education.
Teachers will receive and provide psychosocial support and protection from risks, including violence prevention for
affected children.
UNICEF will support minor repairs, refurbishment and rehabilitation of schools used as shelters that suffered damage
ahead of the timely reopening of schools in September 2024
Gaps & Constraints:
•
The availability of age- and gender-disaggregated information from shelters is inconsistent.
Food Security
Needs:
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Rural Transformation, Industry and Labour of Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines requested urgent assistance to recover food production systems, as well as seeds, fertilizers, shade
houses, technical support and human resource capacity to assess Beryl’s impact.
The Ministry of Economic Development, Planning, Agriculture and lands, Forestry, Marine Resources and
Cooperatives of Grenada requested assistance covering land clearing, planting materials, rehabilitation of
propagation stations, forestry plants and small tools, irrigation main lines, drip lines and water tanks, ropes and
anchors and building materials for poultry farmers. The request also includes technical assistance to complete
damage assessment and a plan for the agriculture and marine resources sectors.
Restoring fishing capacity/livelihoods by repairing/replacing fishing boats, repairing/replacing damaged/lost fishing
and post-harvest gears/tools, repairing/replacing ice machines and cold storage equipment and critical repairs to
fisheries support infrastructure.
Planting materials to banana and plantain farmers, planting inputs for short-cycle crops and alternative income
support for those working in the banana and plantain value chain.
Planting materials and inputs for banana, plantain, tree crops and short-cycle crops, along with alternative income
support for those working in these value chains.
Access to planting materials and inputs to restore or resume cultivation/production of root crops, vegetable crops and
other crops to prevent supply dips and price spikes.
Cash transfers and other mechanisms to help fishers and farmers access basic needs.
Repairing livestock housing, monitoring for possible disease outbreaks and providing food assistance to meet
affected people’s immediate nutrition needs.
Response:
•
FAO Emergency Specialists were deployed to Barbados for needs assessments, resource mobilization, and
partnerships, and to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with CDEMA RNAT from 1-5 July to assess food security and
agricultural livelihoods.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 6
•
•
•
•
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FAO is conducting damage and needs assessments using drones and satellite remote sensing and has mobilized
resources through its Special Fund for Emergency and Rehabilitation Activities (SFERA) for emergency coordination,
response capacities, surge support, field missions, logistics, and technical assistance.
WFP delivered 2,500 food kits to assist 7,500 people with a ten-day ready-to-eat ration in Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and distributed 239 food kits in Union Island. They also distributed 150 dignity kits on behalf of UNICEF.
WFP dispatched 1,082 food kits to Carriacou, with 981 kits distributed by July 15, providing immediate food
assistance to 2,943 vulnerable individuals affected by Hurricane Beryl.
The Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF) triggered tropical cyclone and excess rain policies for
Grenada. Based on the WFP-Caribbean Development Bank partnership under the Canada-CARICOM Climate
Change Adaptation Fund, a percentage of the payout will provide cash assistance to affected people.
UN Women is collaborating with the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) Grenada to support
the agricultural sector.
Gaps & Constraints:
• Insufficient information to inform the specific design of emergency response interventions to reach the most affected,
to be addressed through detailed needs assessments.
• Insufficient information for identifying the most appropriate response and recovery/rehabilitation actions, pending a
detailed fisheries and coastal ecosystem disaster needs assessment.
• Conditions in the southern Grenadines are limiting the movement of the assessment teams. Subsequent data
collection rounds and field visits will be needed.
Health
Needs
Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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•
•
•
•
•
•
•
14
Total health facilities severely
Adequate health sector waste disposal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
damaged
& not operational (10
Provide psychosocial support for those affected, with a special focus on health care
in Saint Vincent and the
workers.
Grenadines and 4 in Grenada)
Procure essential sexual and reproductive health (SRH) kits for emergency
obstetrics and rape management.
Train health workers and gender-based violence (GBV) workers on safe and confidential referral, case management,
and clinical management of rape.
Assess and repair damaged health facilities, including water storage and replacement of supplies and equipment,
such as vaccines and medications.
Provide safe shelter and accommodation for health care staff on affected islands and replace overworked colleagues.
Replace critical medicines, supplies, equipment, laboratory reagents, and vaccines.
Increase surveillance, especially in shelters, and provide food and water for health care workers.
Grenada
•
•
•
Community Nursing Division requested solar lamps/flashlights, mosquito nets, thick rubber gloves, water boots,
sanitary napkins, baby diapers and health workers scrubs.
Health Promotion department requested risk communication items for public health messaging, along with printed
materials.
Establish SRH and GBV referral pathway for enhanced access to SRH and GBV information and services.
Response
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Regional Emergency Medical Team (EMT) network is activated.
Ongoing coordination with the Ministry of Health in affected countries.
PAHO/WHO continues to coordinate with a Samaritan’s Purse EMT in Carriacou and another in Union Island.
PAHO/WHO health facility damage assessment expert in Grenada as part of RNAT working with the Ministries of
Health.
PAHO/WHO Regional Response Team (RRT) members deployed to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines for
assessments on health facility damage, health services, environmental health and mental health and psychosocial
support (MHPSS).
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 7
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On 12 July 2024, the PAHO team, with Ministry of Health officials in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, briefed the
Cabinet, including Prime Minister Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, on the health assessment, presenting recommendations for
water sourcing, sanitation, debris clearing, and mitigating vector-borne illness hazards.
PAHO/WHO procured cleaning items, chlorine, water pumps, and other supplies locally in Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines. Water testing kits, purification tablets, jerrycans, generators, and cleaning supplies for health facilities
arrived via WFP/CDEMA shipments.
The first MHPSS coordination meeting was convened by PAHO/WHO and held on 10 July with the participation of the
Ministry of Health & the Environment and the Ministry of National and Social Mobilization Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines; the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social and Community Development, and the Ministry of Mental
Health, Grenada; UN Women, UNICEF, and UNFPA.
UNFPA, UN Women, UNICEF and PAHO/WHO are integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and GBV
priorities in response and the first health sector coordination meeting was held with participation of health sector
partners and donors.
UNFPA participated in GBV risk assessment in shelters and shared reports.
Gaps & Constraints:
Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Limited connectivity, challenges in deploying public health personnel to affected areas and delays in activating shelter
surveillance mechanisms may affect overall surveillance, particularly early detection and timely reporting of diseases.
• High risk for disease outbreak due to unavailability of running water and other unsanitary conditions.
• Possible spread of communicable diseases and GBV in communities and shelters.
• Healthcare workers who are frontline responders are also impacted and in some cases in significant ways.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• All health facilities in the southern Grenadines are currently closed due to damage.
• The vaccine cold chain is compromised in the Grenadines, potentially interrupting vaccine services for all ages.
Protection
Needs:
Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Assessment methods and experts to understand the specific needs.
• Scale up GBV prevention and response in emergencies.
• Update and establish GBV referral pathway to enhance access to lifesaving services.
• Conduct GBV service mapping for effective referral and to ascertain service gaps.
• Establish GBV mobile and static services to provide critical GBV services to survivors and those at risks of GBV.
• Establish Women and girls' safe spaces (WGSS) for service provision points.
• Procure, preposition and distribute dignity kits and SRH kits.
• Train GBV workers on GBV minimum standards.
• Relief supplies for families, women, GBV survivors and the elderly in shelters.
• Scaled-up GBV awareness, training and protocols in shelters and referral pathway options.
• Mental Health and Psychosocial Support services for those affected.
• Cash-based options for those affected, including women and families in shelters, Micro, Small and Medium
Enterprises (MSMEs) and agri-businesses.
• Child Friendly and Safe Spaces.
• Support with scaling up their cash transfers programmes.
• Dignity and hygiene kits.
• Distribution of Prevention from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) material to humanitarian workers and
awareness building and sensitization sessions on available SEA reporting mechanisms.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Training for shelter managers on GBV risks mitigation and safe and confidential referral.
• Establish and update GBV referral pathways
• Procure, distribute and preposition dignity kits and SRH kits
• Establish safe spaces for women and girls.
• Beds and fans for women and girls’ safe spaces.
• 1,000 “Share the Care” packs requested by national gender authorities.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 8
•
School for people with disabilities in Bequia in need of support.
Grenada
• The Ministry of Social and Community Development, Housing and Gender Affairs is requesting UNICEF support in
expanding Safety Net Programmes via psychosocial support in the parishes of Carriacou, Petite Martinique, St.
Patrick, St. John and St. Mark and refurbishing facilitates to accommodate vulnerable evacuees such as the elderly,
children and people with disabilities.
• Relief supplies for shelters and women’s homes.
• Information on self-care and psychosocial support for the elderly.
• Shelter protocol for addressing GBV.
• GBV referral pathway for Carriacou and Petite Martinique (especially Carriacou), as the Spotlight pathway is only for
mainland Grenada.
• Understand the needs/gaps in the GBV Referral Pathway.
• Training of GBV service providers and others supporting in shelters.
Response:
•
•
•
UN Women are supporting assessments, cleanup efforts and providing “Share the Care” packs. UNFPA is working
with Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines government counterparts to provide lifesaving GBV services,
dignity kits and mitigation actions in shelters.
UNFPA is supporting a GBV service mapping exercise to update referral pathways and mainstream GBV risk
mitigation across sectors. GBV Specialists are deployed to Grenada and for Hurricane Beryl response.
UNFPA is conducting GBV rapid needs assessments to inform UN response planning and funding and deploying a
Humanitarian Coordinator to strengthen SRH and GBV priorities in humanitarian efforts.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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•
•
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•
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UN Women deployed additional staff to support government ministries/departments as needed, with a team arriving in
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 7 July and another to deploy this week.
UN Women and UNFPA are standing by to support GBV referral services. UN Women and UNICEF are ready to
implement psychosocial support initiatives, such as the Self Care Toolkit for Adults, in partnership with UNICEF’s
“Return to Happiness” programme.
UN Women will distribute “Share the Care” packs to MSMEs and is completing an assessment of MSMEs in
collaboration with Business Service Organizations.
UN Women is supporting civil society organizations to act as a conduit for regional organizations such as Caribbean
Women in Leadership (CIWIL) and Red Roots.
UNICEF has deployed its Child Friendly Space Coordinator and MHPSS specialist to support the government in
coordinating the child protection response and training frontline workers in Return to Happiness (RTH) programming,
establishing Child Friendly Spaces (CFS), and capacity building on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse
(PSEA), Psychological First Aid (PFA), and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation
UNICEF will provide technical assistance to the Government in the design or expansion of cash transfers for affected
populations.
UNFPA's Global Emergency Response Team (GERT) has deployed a GBV Specialist to support GBV coordination
and programming. UNFPA is also deploying a Humanitarian Coordinator to strengthen capacities for the integration of
SRH and GBV priorities in humanitarian response efforts.
Grenada
• UN Women to distribute locally procured “Share the Care” Packs for shelters, including Cedar’s Home and to
Carriacou and Petite Martinique. They have conducted site visits to three elderly care homes and donated adult
diapers and shipped “Share the Care” on 9 July to Carriacou for distribution on 10 July.
• A UN Women team of four is supporting clean-up efforts in Carriacou and a team visited Cedar's Home on 8 July,
delivering “Share the Care” and a 1500-watt solar generator.
• UNFPA is facilitating safety audits in shelters, providing information on SRH and GBV services and distributing dignity
kits, with support from the Government’s GBV Unit.
• UNFPA is standing by to support a GBV service mapping exercise to update referral pathways to connect GBV
survivors to appropriate multisectoral services.
• UNICEF has deployed its Child Protection Officer and MHPSS Specialists to support the government in coordinating
the child protection response and training frontline workers in Return to Happiness (RTH) programming, establishing
Child Friendly Spaces (CFS) and capacity building on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA),
Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 9
•
UNICEF has deployed its Social Protection Specialists to support the development of a social protection expansion
plan for the affected areas and households affected by Hurricane Beryl throughout all Grenada
Gaps & Constraints:
•
•
Potential for family separation, increasing risks for vulnerable groups (unaccompanied and separated children, people
living with disabilities, pregnant women, single female heads of household and women traveling alone.)
Concerns about managing GBV situations, particularly in shelters.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Early Childhood Centers have been affected.
• Concerns on the equitable distribution of relief supplies.
Grenada
• Referral pathways not fully operational on sister islands.
Shelter
Needs:
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•
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Community toolkits containing hammers, saws, screwdrivers, nails, screws could accelerate emergency repairs.
Shovels, wheelbarrows and cutters to support debris removal.
Each household should receive two tarpaulins with clear usage instructions to prevent tearing and ensure durability.
Shelters and homes shared by multiple families need partitioning materials such as plywood, cardboard, and indoor
tents.
Distributing household non-food items like mattresses, kitchen sets, and bedding will improve living conditions.
Water storage and carrying equipment, including buckets and jerrycans, are essential for cleaning, flushing toilets,
and washing. Additionally, fumigation against mosquitoes has been reported as a need in various locations.
Collective emergency shelters
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Reduced emergency shelter capacity has led to overcrowded living conditions. Five out of eight official shelters in
Carriacou and one of two in Petite Martinique are inoperable due to extensive structural damage.
Rain-induced leaks are impairing the functionality of essential facilities like kitchens and toilets.
In Mayreau, Canouan, Union Island, most emergency shelters are damaged, with Union Island and Canouan shelters
destroyed. Makeshift shelters are being set up in alternative buildings across these locations.
Official shelters have increased security, especially at nighttime but overall security situation is unclear after curfews
are lifted.
Shelters need wind- and rainproofing with tarpaulins and fixing materials, leakages damaged critical items such as
mattresses making them unusable, or further shrinking the limited space for persons to be accommodated.
Gender-separated bathrooms, additional locks for washrooms and living areas, cleaning supplies, hygiene materials
and child-friendly spaces are needed.
Damaged houses
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At least 50 per cent of those affected are residing in partially damaged houses. The Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Ministry of Transport, Works, Lands and Physical Planning began a housing damage assessment on the mainland.
Coordinating assessments for all affected areas.
Heavily damaged houses need wind- and rainproofing, ideally two tarpaulins per household with clear installation
instructions to prevent tearing.
Partitioning materials such as plywood, cardboard, or indoor tents are needed for privacy in multi-family dwellings.
Non-food items (NFIs) such as mattresses, kitchen sets, bedding, solar lights, water storage tools like buckets and
jerrycans and mosquito nets (ideally two per household) to mitigate vector-borne diseases.
Medium-term shelter solutions are necessary before schools re-open in September 2024, addressing sustained
capacity concerns if displacement continues.
Response:
•
IOM organized the shelter/NFI thematic working group, which mapped sector partners and their initial response
capacity. Three IOM information managers are supporting governments with monitoring emergency shelters and are
developing a methodology to track people moving between the islands.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
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Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 10
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Governments and partners, such as Caritas Antilles, Habitat for Humanity, the International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement, IOM, Samaritans Purse, ShelterBox and various volunteer groups are distributing tarpaulins,
solar lamps, tents, kitchen sets, bedding and clothing.
IOM deployed shelter specialists in the RNAT to Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, carrying out a first
profiling of needs and population at five emergency shelters.
IOM mobilized a shelter expert to develop a short term and longer-term shelter / housing strategy to inform
governments’ policies.
UNICEF teams are on standby to support the roll out of MHPSS and Return to Happiness (RTH) programme and
establishment of Child Friendly Spaces within the shelters, in collaboration with the Education sector.
Several assessments are ongoing, including the UNDAC-supported RNAT in Grenada.
Samaritan’s Purse have delivered tarpaulins and shelter kits (nails and other building materials) across Carriacou
Christian Relief Services in partnership with Caritas Grenada - Project Assistant of Youth Emergency Action
Committee (YEAC) are delivering shelter kits.
Grenada Electricity Services Ltd (Grenlec) installed an additional generator and streetlights on 11 July in Petite
Martinique.
Gaps & Constraints:
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•
Reports indicate that there is no tarpaulin available on Grenada mainland.
There are reports of breaking and entering and looting of buildings that did not initially sustain significant damage,
causing more damage and creating more need for construction materials.
Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
Needs:
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Safe drinking water, including chemical and biological water quality testing, treatment, distribution and
water storage items.
Emergency latrines (with gender and disability considerations), emptying and safe disposal services.
Hygiene supplies and awareness messages to prevent the spread of diseases.
Response:
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Join the WASH
Coordination
Group for Grenada
UNICEF deployed two specialists to Grenada as part of the RNAT to support WASH assessments.
UNICEF has deployed the regional WASH manager to support WASH coordination in both Grenada and Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines.
UNICEF and Grenada’s National Water and Sewerage Authority (NAWASA) co-chaired the WASH coordination
meeting in Grenada on 12 July, with UN agencies and international partners in attendance. A similar meeting for Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines is slated for the week of 15 July.
UNICEF is preparing hygiene messaging with the Government for disseminating in shelters and communities.
UNICEF shipped dignity/hygiene kits to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, benefiting 846 families. Distribution
reached 200 families in Union Island, 159 families in Canouan, 46 families in Mayreau, and 441 families on mainland
Saint Vincent.
UNICEF is preparing to ship additional hygiene kits and jerry cans to both Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and
Grenada for families in need.
Gaps & Constraints:
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WASH assessments for shelters.
Hygiene messaging in shelters.
Logistics
Needs:
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No capacity for offloading boats that are arriving in Canouan and Union Island.
The Union Island airport runway is operable, but the control tower is destroyed. The Carriacou airstrip can receive
humanitarian aircrafts, but the terminal and communications infrastructure are destroyed.
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
www.unocha.org
Eastern Caribbean – Hurricane Beryl: Situation Report No. 3 | 11
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Vessels delivering relief items to Grenada are advised to use Port Saint Georges first.
The Carriacou seaport is functional and commercial transport between Saint Georges and Carriacou
is restored.
Response:
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The CDEMA -WFP logistics service shipped logistics assets to Grenada, including Mobile Storage
Units (MSUs) and handling equipment, to enhance surge capacity.
WFP is working with the governments of Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to
coordinate logistics and provide technical support for supply chain management. This includes
establishing MSUs to optimize the food distribution process in Carriacou. Efforts are also underway
to set up MSUs on mainland Saint Vincent to provide additional storage space for the Ministry of
National Mobilization.
Register your
logistics request
on the WFP
Service
Marketplace
Early Recovery
Needs:
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Damage, loss and needs assessment, building on the rapid assessments.
Build Back Better, with targeted risk reduction activities for economic recovery and resilience.
Supporting governments of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada in the recovery process. This includes
extensive interventions in debris removal, community stabilization, livelihoods and economic regeneration.
Focus on gender sensitivity in all interventions.
While Governments and partners are meeting humanitarian needs, investing in Early Recovery is urgently required to
reduce risk and vulnerability amid the growing frequency and intensity of disasters in the Caribbean.
Response:
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Damage and needs assessment teams deployed to Petite Martinique and Carriacou.
Assessments have been completed for an estimated 2,000 structures across Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Volunteers are helping with debris removal across both islands. A large clean-up effort is led each weekend with free
ferries bringing volunteers from Grenada.
All primary roads have been cleared in Carriacou. Efforts are underway to clear secondary roads.
Both countries have a significant proportion of female-headed households, with nearly half of all households in
Grenada and 39 per cent in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines headed by women. This underscores the need for
gender-sensitive approaches in analysing needs and in the response and recovery processes.
Gaps & Constraints:
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Homes are likely to be repaired quickly with plywood and other insufficient materials, leaving families vulnerable to
future hurricanes and other adverse effects.
Recovery must start immediately and requires significant resource commitments.
GENERAL COORDINATION
The UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is coordinating UN support to governmentled responses in Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and continues working closely with CDEMA.
Background on the crisis
Hurricane Beryl, the first major hurricane of the 2024 season, formed on 28 June in the Atlantic Ocean and rapidly intensified to
a Category 5 by 1 July, making it the earliest Category 5 hurricane on record. Beryl made landfall on Grenada and St Vincent and
the Grenadines as a high-end Category 4 storm with sustained winds over 150 mph (240 km/h), causing widespread damage to
homes, businesses, and public utilities. The storm surge and powerful winds prompted immediate humanitarian response efforts.
Useful Links
For further information, please contact:
Marlon Clarke, Emergency Officer, mclarke@unicef.org, Cell +1 246 467 - 6174
Randy Warner, Information Management Officer, randy.warner@un.org, Tel: +1 246 467 6113, Cell +1 246 836 6113
For more information, please visit Response Relief Web; The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
www.unocha.org