Saint Vincent and the Grenadines citizens affected by the major eruptions spewing from La Soufrière volcano will benefit from a United Nations $29.2 million appeal.
St Vincent residents have already received plenty of support internationally, especially from neighbouring countries and the UN has launched the global funding appeal to add to that support.
The funding will provide immediate lifesaving humanitarian assistance, including clean water, and support a sustainable recovery for everyone impacted.
The UN and partners will also assess the economic, social and environmental toll on all the countries touched by the fallout, including ash removal and improving environmental health provisions. Another UN priority is to continue preventing the spread of COVID-19.
St Vincent and the Grenadines consists of more than 30 islands and cays, nine of which are inhabited. With over 12,700 evacuees now registered in public shelters and in private homes, around 20,000 people will be displaced.
Entire villages have been covered in ash, buildings damaged, schools and businesses closed, crops and livestock destroyed, and residents left with limited access to clean drinking water. More eruptions are expected in the coming weeks.
A call for international solidarity has been made to help the most vulnerable people in St Vincent as well as in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada and Saint Lucia, which have been hit with severe ash fall.
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