'Midnight hour of need': St. Vincent pleads for global help
The prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is making a heartfelt plea to the international community to help his country recover from a volcanic eruption that has displaced 20,000 people
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The prime minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines made a heartfelt plea Monday to the international community to help his country recover from a volcanic eruption that has displaced 20,000 people, saying the island nation is “in its midnight hour of need.”
“Across our land, the faces of men and women are strained and anxious. They’re hurting badly,” Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves told the U.N. Security Council, saying his country is confronting “a monumental challenge of humanitarian relief.”
La Soufrière, the volcano on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, unleashed its first big eruption of ash and hot gas April 9, a day after the government ordered people to evacuate homes nearby. Subsequent explosions have followed.
Thousands of people have been living in government shelters, some of which have been struggling to provide basic supplies, and water systems are shut down in many parts of the island.
The U.N.'s resident coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean said last week that the island was facing “a humanitarian crisis that is growing and may continue for weeks and months.” It is happening as St. Vincent and the Grenadines contends with the coronavirus pandemic and the approaching hurricane season.
A Venezuelan navy ship has delivered water and other supplies to St. Vincent, and Caribbean island nations are sending aid. The U.N. has released $1 million from an emergency response fund, according to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres office, and the world body will soon be launching an emergency appeal for money to fund the humanitarian effort and the early phase of recovery for the next six months.
Speaking at a virtual U.N. Security Council meeting about regional organizations, Gonsalves praised them and the U.N. for their assistance so far but said much more is needed.
“Without effective cooperation between our country, the United Nations and our regional and sub-regional organizations, our life and living will be wholly unbearable,” he said and urged the global community to be generous.
“Please help St. Vincent and the Grenadines in its midnight hour of need,” he said.