Help is on the Way for Boca del Rio Fire Victims

Two days after the fire, a massive humanitarian effort is underway in San Pedro to assist victims of the devastating inferno in Boca del Rio.  An outpour of public assistance from local businesses, as well as concerned residents on the island, has been steady.  Late this evening, clothing, non-perishable food items and bedding were being delivered to Hope Haven for distribution among the many families displaced by the disaster.  The organization serves as the nerve centre for relief efforts put together by members of the community.  Today, a handful of San Pedranos affected by the fire was on hand to receive items that are being donated.  Cristina Romero is the Play Therapist at Hope Haven Children’s Shelter.

Cristina Romero

Christina Romero, Play Therapist, Hope Haven

“Our director, Britney O’Donnell is part of the EOC, for the EOC here in San Pedro, so early Saturday morning the staff of Hope Haven gathered here to discuss how best we can assist the fire victims.  We are hosting currently twenty people upstairs, these are people that had nowhere to go.  The other eighty-six victims they do have somewhere to stay.  They’re staying with their family members or friends.  We are currently providing three meals a day with the help of the community.  I must say San Pedro is a community that comes together in time of need and we have gotten great response from the community, from the resorts, from the locals bringing in donations of groceries, of clothing, prepared food and we’re offering three meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner from now until Sunday.”

Isani Cayetano

“As a resident of San Pedro, do you feel concerned or do you to an extent, perhaps live with some fear that a tragedy like this can befall your family or residence given the present situation of either the congestion of the island or the fact that there aren’t adequate resources to fight a fire such as this?”

Christina Romero

“I believe, I am a former member of the NEMO EOC as well, and I believe that it has to be a community effort.  San Pedro is the number one destination in the country and we pay a lot of taxes.  A lot of our tax dollars go to the betterment of the country but we’re not getting that back on the island and it is important to note that we have had three recent fires.  I will not blame the fire department because they are working as best as they can with what they have, but I do believe that we need to do something to get portable water pumps or train more people on the island to better fight these disasters.”