After due consultation with PM Roosevelt Skerrit, PM Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) has revealed that more than 50 people displaced by the La Soufriere volcano will be arriving to Dominica soon. About 21 people initially indicated their interests to be evacuated to Dominica, but the number has gone up to 50+ according to the SVG leader.
Meanwhile, the government of Dominica made provisions to accommodate 300 evacuees from SVG, and these will be sheltered in Portsmouth and Roseau. Although a little over 50 people have indicated their willingness to come to Dominica, PM Skerrit said the offer of sheltering 300 people remains open to other persons who may still want to come.
PM Gonsalves said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in SVG and Dominica are working together to facilitate the evacuation and settlement of the displaced persons. To this end, the evacuees will undergo a PCR test before leaving SVG and after arrival in Dominica where they may be quarantined for a few days before relocation to their settlements.
The DLP government has revealed that children will be placed in schools in Dominica and they will be provided with books and uniforms to help them blend in. All evacuees arriving to Dominica will be absorbed for a period of 5 months and may return to their home country when things stabilize there.
While the volcano eruption spewing heavy ash across the SVG skies continues unabated, Gonsalves said his main problem is feeding the thousands of displaced people who are sheltered across 88 locations in the country. Many of the displaced persons are housed in public schools and churches, while hundreds of local residents have opened up their homes to receive displaced persons.
Gonsalves said his government is facing the difficult task of feeding 21,000 people everyday, even though many neighbouring countries in the Caribbean and beyond have helping with humanitarian aids and funds. He said the difficulty initially faced with water scarcity has been overcome, and there is a decent amount of water available for drinking and daily use among the evacuees.
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