World Food Programme Signs Technical Assistance Agreement with Belize

While preparations are underway for the upcoming music and food festival, the Government of Belize and the World Food Programme Caribbean have signed an agreement that will see Belizeans negatively impacted by a storm, hurricane, or intense rainfalls receive much needed cash assistance. The World Food Programme Technical Assistance Agreement will see the organization provide a hundred thousand U.S dollars in annual top up towards the premium for the Government of Belize’s Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility’s Tropical Cyclone and Excess Rainfall Policies. This will translate into assistance for the most vulnerable through national, social protection programs. Christopher Coye, the Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance was on hand for the signing.

Christopher Coye

Christopher Coye, Minister of State, Ministry of Finance

“Belize certainly suffers in an extraordinary amount of loses on a recurring basis from natural disasters. So, it is all the more important for us to address by way of all these contingency events that can occur, not only a contingency fund that we have recently established on our own, but also to ramp up the scope of coverage and the extent of coverage by way of this type of insurance policy, with the premium supported by the World Food Program. So, thanks again for coming here and playing a part in getting Belize ready for disaster events. I would like to highlight that this arrangement focuses on the needs of those mostly in need, in terms of any pay out this makes sure that food security is a priority and those affected will have from that pay out money put towards food assistance.”