Specialists from the United Nations Environment Program and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs are on the ground to assess damage and develop strategies.
This was stated by the Deputy Spokesperson for the United Nations Secretary-General, Farhan Haq, and he explained that many of them have experience in geology, ash management, environmental pollution and environmental response.
The spokesperson noted that air quality, ash management, water and soil pollution associated with volcanic activity are among the top concerns at the moment.
Other challenges include sanitation in shelters, excessive use of plastics, as well as the large amount of waste generated by the ongoing relief efforts, he added.
He explained that food security and livelihoods are affected by the continuous explosions in the agricultural sector, livestock, marine ecosystems and ecotourism.
And rightly so, most of the UN team is in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where the eruption of La Soufriere volcano caused a grave humanitarian crisis.
The volcano continues to erupt and the entire Caribbean country remains on red alert.
The La Soufriere outbreak erupted on April 9, and has since forced more than 20,000 people to flee to neighboring islands and protected sites.
Faced with the state of emergency, the United Nations, the Caribbean Community and members of the Bolivarian Alliance of the Peoples of America – the People’s Trade Treaty, among other entities and states, have sent resources and assistance.
M / IFB
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