Volunteers bring aid and hope to hurricane-hit Carriacou Island

The Category 4 hurricane, the most powerful of June’s Atlantic storms, has left the island in ruins, damaging more than 95% of buildings and leaving in its wake flattened homes, destroyed infrastructure and a community in desperate need of relief.

Among the volunteers is Ryan Jackson, 50, of Grenadian heritage from London. He came to the island with his wife to support his parents who live in Grenada and who survived the hurricane. “I just want to help my parents and other people. I feel like I have a duty to help those who have lost everything,” Jackson said, as he worked tirelessly to help elderly residents clear debris from their homes.

A long-standing tradition

The scene in Carriacou is one of complete desolation. Collapsed houses, destroyed police stations, schools and hospitals, and streets filled with debris paint a grim picture. The island remains under a state of emergency and work to restore power to remote areas is expected to take weeks. The impact of the hurricane was so severe that it wiped out entire villages, and many communities have had to go live in shelters or with relatives. Through Copernicus satellite images It was determined that 857 residential buildings were damaged in some way. Almost a third (32%) are completely destroyed, a quarter are damaged and the remainder (43%) are still to be assessed and are possibly damaged.

Volunteering is a long-standing tradition in the Caribbean, a region frequently hit by natural disasters. Volunteers from Trinidad and Tobago, led by Keon Bowen, have been working tirelessly for the past three weeks.

“People are so devastated that they haven’t returned to the island. We’re working in small squads in all areas,” Bowen said under a blazing sun as he cleared debris from the shattered home of Rose Sylvester, a 66-year-old resident who is currently living in a shelter with her two daughters and granddaughter. “My biggest wish would be to be able to go home. This is terribly sad, I have nowhere else to go,” she said, her voice breaking with emotion at having to see her kitchen and television completely destroyed, next to the debris that is being cleared away. She hopes to soon be able to access support to rebuild her home.

Community resilience in the midst of challenges

Despite the immense challenges that Carriacou faces, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has been active in distributing humanitarian assistance in coordination with the Government of Grenada. Tarpaulins, solar lamps and tents have been delivered to those whose homes and livelihoods have disappeared. The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local resources. “After initially delivering thousands of non-food items, we are continuing to distribute crucial assistance to people recovering from the devastation. The distribution of tarpaulins and solar lamps will continue and we will also repair key infrastructure, and teach and assist local people to build better roofs to cope with future disasters,” said Martina Cilkova, Shelter and Settlement Officer at the IOM.

Day after day, volunteers assist thousands of people, reflecting the resilience and determination of the people of Grenada. Anthony St. Hilaire, a 66-year-old resident, represents the spirit of resistance that characterizes this community. He now sleeps in the remains of the bathroom of the house where he has lived all his life, covered by a plastic sheet, and there he plays the ukulele, the only object he managed to recover, and tells us: “We have our lives; the rest is material.” His words resonate in the ears of many others who have lost everything but who do not intend to give up and plan to rebuild their lives and communities. “We Grenadians endure everything together and we move together.”

Young volunteers and families are helping out in a variety of ways, from clearing debris to packing and distributing food. “I didn’t want to sit around doing nothing,” Angele said as she distributed hot meals. The experience has also fostered a sense of closeness. “I’m proud to be a volunteer and I can see the impact of our work in the smiles on people’s faces.”

A long road to recovery

The recovery process is expected to be long and challenging. The Government, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), United Nations agencies, national and international organizations are collaborating in the provision of essential services and supporting reconstruction efforts. However, they face significant challenges in the areas of logistics, resource allocation, and reconstruction efforts to deal with future disasters, especially as the peak of the hurricane season approaches.

The devastation in Granada is unprecedented. A month later, while the rubble has been cleared from the streets, many homes remain roofless or have much debris still to be removed. While daily life has returned to a somewhat moral state, homes are still without electricity. Entire villages have been swept away by the storm surge caused by the hurricane, and many communities are still living in shelters or with relatives.

Yet, amidst the chaos, the spirit of volunteerism and community resilience is a ray of hope. Volunteers continue to work diligently, driven by a sense of solidarity that unites them. As this island paradise is slowly rebuilt, the efforts of these volunteers will be remembered as an example of the unity and strong resilience of this Caribbean people.