Red Cross receives $100,000 from U.S. Embassy
The Belize Red Cross also scored big today. It is the recipient of a new donation to assist flood victims of tropical depression sixteen. And this time the assistance came in the form of cash in the sum of one hundred thousand Belize dollars from the U.S. Embassy. The monies will be used in efforts to prevent the transmission of diseases caused by the floods. U.S. Ambassador Robert Dieter explains.
Robert Dieter, U.S. Ambassador
“This money is being provided by the US AID and through the overseas Foreign Disasters Assistant Program. So whenever there is a significant natural disaster occurring, we always provided assistance. We provided assistance back in May when tropical storm Arthur hit and then in addition to the U.S. embassy military liaison office, we provided twenty-four thousand dollars worth of supplies. It’s gonna be used to buy food kits and cleaning kits so when people move back into their homes they have materials to put their homes in order and also feed their families.”
Lily Bowman, Dir. General, Belize Red Cross
“It is gonna be used for payment of five hundred food packages and these packages are for a family of five to seven for a period of two weeks. It’s gonna be used also to purchase five hundred cleaning kits which includes mops, brooms, buckets, Clorox, disinfectant, soap powder, gloves.”
Duane Moody
“I understand that there are a lot of people that are still in shelters, mainly in the Orange Walk District. What is the Red Cross doing to assist them?”
Lily Bowman
“The Red Cross has always been assisting the families in the shelters in Orange Walk and we have been keeping up to date with them to ensure that we are there for them as they move back into their village and we understand now that they should be moving back this weekend. So of course, we will start our cleaning kits distribution on Saturday so that they can have their homes ready for Christmas.”
Bowman says that the Red Cross’ has received close to eight hundred thousand dollars in cash for flood relief.
