UN official describes total devastation in Carriacou following Hurricane Beryl

    Hurricane Beryl has caused devastation on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Humanitarian Aid

Speaking via video link from Grenada, Simon Springett, UN Resident Coordinator in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, described scenes of complete devastation in Carriacou, where Hurricane Beryl struck on 1 July.

“The entire island is severely affected ... every single person has been impacted,” he emphasized.

Hurricane Beryl, the strongest June hurricane on record in the Atlantic Ocean, began as a tropical depression and quickly intensified into a Category 4 storm, briefly reaching Category 5 status with winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph).

By Friday morning (New York time), it had made landfall on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula and is currently tracking west-northwest, expected to reach southern Texas, United States by Monday morning.

‘Very complicated crisis’

Mr. Springett characterized the situation as a “highly complex crisis,” marked by significant logistical and access challenges.

"Four days post-hurricane, the roads on the island remain impassable, and communication was only restored last night," he noted.

“Following the hurricane, rough seas made reaching the island nearly impossible. Air control towers are down, affecting flight visibility. Moreover, even if supplies reach the airport, there are no accessible roads to distribute goods,” he elaborated.

International response

Nations from near and far are sending aid, with a French ship expected to arrive in Carriacou later in the day, alongside assistance from Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago, according to Mr. Springett.

“We are seeing a significant international response... it truly is a global effort, and the UN is proud to be part of it,” he remarked.

Also speaking via video link from the Bahamas, Dennis Zulu, the Resident Coordinator for Jamaica and the Bahamas, emphasized the importance of international cooperation.

He highlighted that the UN is collaborating closely with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the regional agency responsible for emergency and disaster response, to ensure a coordinated regional effort.

“We are ready to coordinate a unified humanitarian response with our international development partners and are already engaging with partners and organizations in Jamaica,” he added.

Widespread damage

Mr. Zulu stated that detailed assessments of damage in Jamaica and other islands supported by his office are currently ongoing.

“The widespread damage is evident and impacts people from various backgrounds, particularly in rural Jamaica, including the southern parishes of Clarendon, Manchester, and Saint Elizabeth, as well as those in vulnerable housing,” he emphasized.

He also highlighted that the Government of Jamaica has implemented an effective response plan, backed by the UN and partners, which includes setting up shelters for those displaced from their homes.

Additionally, critical needs include ensuring access to clean drinking water, communication facilities, data access, and support for livelihoods.

    A family stands outside their home destroyed by Hurricane Beryl in Grenada.

‘Pledge to be there for children’

According to UNICEF, more than 650,000 people, including 150,000 children, in Barbados, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tobago were in the path of Hurricane Beryl. Many have lost their homes and are currently housed in temporary shelters.

The UN agency had pre-positioned life-saving supplies before the storm and is now mobilizing additional supplies and funds for the response.

“We are deeply concerned about the plight of those affected by Hurricane Beryl, especially the most vulnerable – children and women ... we are committed to supporting the children of the affected countries,” said Pieter Bult, UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Area.

Similarly, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has dispatched teams to the affected islands to assist with assessments and provide early response aid.

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, WFP has been requested to provide emergency telecommunications and logistics support, while in Barbados, the agency is aiding with emergency food kits that will be transported and distributed to affected populations in the islands.

‘Very intense’ hurricane season looms

Earlier today in Geneva, Vanessa Huguenin, a spokesperson for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), remarked on the rarity of such a powerful storm occurring so early in the hurricane season.

“While humanitarians have been preparing for this hurricane season, such a strong storm this early is extremely uncommon,” she stated during a regular media briefing at the UN Office at Geneva (UNOG).

The Atlantic hurricane season spans from June through the end of November, with expectations of 17 to 25 named storms, surpassing the average of 14 storms annually.

The UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) forecasts eight to 13 of these storms to develop into hurricanes, which is higher than the average of seven, including four to seven major hurricanes.

“A major hurricane, classified as category three, four, or five on the Saffir Simpson scale with winds of 110 mph (177 km/h) or more, is expected,” she added.

Rhea Pierre, Disaster Manager at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), commented, “This new reality of unprecedented hurricanes is increasingly becoming a regular occurrence for Caribbean nations as they bear the brunt of climate change.”

“The visible and devastating impacts following Hurricane Beryl underscore the severity of the situation,” she concluded.