7 News Belize

Post hurricane Funds From Red Cross
posted (December 16, 2010)
In our last story before the break - we told you about the hurricane recovery effort from the perspective of the Ministry Of Housing.

And the Red Cross has also been hard at work. As a result of the Belize Red Cross international appeal for relief, the American Red Cross offered to provide help to residents of Gracie Rock and Hattieville who were affected by Hurricane Richard in October.

The help, which is specifically for housing, will benefit some sixty nine families. Today, thirty five of those families from Hattieville received their vouchers at the Belize Cross office. Lilly Bowman, Director General of the Belize Red Cross told us more:

Lily Bowman, President, Belize Red Cross
"Today these recipients comes from Hattieville. There are some 35 of them and they have been classified according to their damage receive from Hurricane Richard and its either minor damage, major damage or fully destroyed."

Andrea Polanco
"I know the vouchers are specifically for them to do construction on their houses."

Lily Bowman, President, Belize Red Cross
"According to their level of damage they will receive a voucher for a certain sum of money and then they can take it to the merchant and to purchase construction material and tools, whatever they need to put back their roofs or walls or whatever they need for their house. The decision to repair what on their house is theirs."

Laura Hevesi, American Red Cross
"The program which are providing support to the Belize Red Cross; to be eligible there are series about 9 criteria to be eligible for and they include things like the damage had to be from hurricane Richard, conditions and vulnerability, single parents are getting additional consideration so we sent our teams of volunteers out to their homes, we did an assessment of the damage and we register them, ask a series of questions based on this selection criteria, We then took their registrations, examine them and those who met the criteria were eligible for the program. There is one requirement, we are asking people to purchase hurricane straps so that they can make their house stronger for the next hurricane and hopefully they won't have the same damage."

Andrea Polanco
"You recipients of this voucher, how will this help you?"

Mr. & Mrs. Martin, Hattieville Resident
"It will help us a great deal in terms of getting back on our feet and try to help our family."

Andrea Polanco
"What kind of damage your house sustain?"

Mrs. Martin, Hattieville Resident
"It was total, I lost everything."

"I am excited; I could believe this would happen so quick. I lost memories, I have 5 children and it seems like 'oh my God, this is so much for me' with this at least I can give my children a home for the Christmas."

Andrea Polanco
"So you feel the same, excited as well?"

Mr. Martin, Hattieville Resident
"Sure I am."

Andrea Polanco
"So how your children they feel about this?"

Mr. Martin, Hattieville Resident
"I feel like it will help them a great deal to know that everything will be ok for the Christmas holidays."

Andrea Polanco
"So they don't know as yet? How will you break the news to them?"

Mrs. Martin, Hattieville Resident
"I don't know, I guess when they come home this evening from school I could just imagine how they will scream."

Andrea Polanco
"So right now you are going to cash this voucher and start rebuild your house."

Mr. Martin, Hattieville Resident
"Yes, sure right away. "

Yesterday, the other 34 families received their vouchers in Gracie Rock village.

Home | Archives | Downloads/Podcasts | Advertise | Contact Us

7 News Belize