Hurricane Dean damage tallied at 100 million dollars

As Belizeans in the north continue to recover from the destruction of Hurricane Dean, government calculators have been assessing the storm’s financial impact on the country. In a statement released to the media late Friday evening, Prime Minister Said Musa maintained that those most in need have been identified and assistance is fully mobilized. But underscoring that statement was the P.M.’s announcement that Dean has cost Belize more than a hundred million dollars.

Prime Minister Said Musa
“The terrible destruction caused by Hurricane Dean has been estimated at around fifty-three million U.S. dollars. It will cost at least ten million U.S. to replace or repair the hundreds of houses that have been completely or partially destroyed or sustained structural damage. We estimate that between the districts of Corozal and Orange Walk, close to two thousand people are now homeless. The national priority is therefore to ensure that these people have access to food, good drinking water, medicine and sanitation services everyday until we are able to get them out of the shelters. At the same time, we will shortly be making grants and loans, without the need for collateral available so that people who need our help can repair their homes.”

“We have identified a critical needs list for the disaster areas. This comprises food supplies and potable water, health and supplies, building materials, seeds and agro chemical supplies. People and organizations that wish to assist us should therefore keep this in mind.”

According to P.M. Musa, Taiwan, other allies as well as several international agencies have pledged to assist Belize in the recovery efforts.