UNITED NATIONS - / MaximsNews Network / 11 June 2008 -- United Nations crisis officials are working with local authorities in Belize to coordinate relief efforts in the wake of flooding across the Central American country caused by the first storm of the annual Atlantic hurricane season.

Staff from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have been providing logistical and technical support over the past week to authorities, according to a UNDP news release issued yesterday.

Flooding remains particularly widespread in southern Belize, more than a week after Tropical Storm Arthur, which formed on 31 May and immediately made landfall, dumped about 15 inches of rain on the small country.

Tropical Storm Alma, which developed over the eastern Pacific Ocean in late May, also made landfall in Belize, ensuring four days of intense rain.

At least five people have been killed and three others are still missing, UNDP said. The homes of about 8,000 people have been destroyed, submerged or otherwise damaged.

National authorities have identified food, water, medicines and clothing as among the most important short-term needs, with housing construction materials and household items important in the longer term.

UN officials say they are also concerned about water and sanitation, and the risk that infectious diseases could spread as a result of contaminated waters.

Labels: United Nations, U.N. Belize, UN Development Programme, UNDP, UN Population Fund, UNFPA, UN Children's Fund, UNICEF, Pan American Health Organization, PAHO, Tropical Storm Arthur, Tropical Storm Alma

 

Advertisement

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MaximsNews® LLC   NEWS NETWORK FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

MaximsNews Network® LLC is a Global News Network that is read worldwide, in 201 countries and territories. It is associated with MediaChannel.org and Globalvision News Network, global news and media information services with more than 350 news affiliates in 135 countries. 

Established in 1999, MaximsNews now publishes in the six UN working languages: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.  

SEE:  About MaximsNews

The views expressed are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of MaximsNews® LLC.

REACH THE WORLD'S MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE  

SEE: Advertise with MaximsNews | MaximsNews MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS      

MaximsNews.com U.N. ® LLC  www.MaximsNews.com | MaximsNews@MaximsNews.com           | CONTACT MaximsNews  | Please contact us about Republishing: Syndication@MaximsNews.com ©Copyrights 1999 - 2008, MaximsNews® LLC. All rights reserved.