Hurricane Beryl’s historic fury leaves Caribbean in ruins, recovery efforts begin

By Horace Palacio: Hurricane Beryl, an unprecedented Category 5 storm, ravaged the Caribbean this week, leaving a trail of destruction and loss in its wake. The storm, the first on record to reach such intensity so early in the Atlantic hurricane season, brought winds of 140 to 160 mph, causing widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and loss of life.

Preliminary reports from Jamaica confirm two fatalities, with significant damage to buildings and infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. Telecommunications and electricity supply have been severely impacted, affecting hundreds of thousands. In the Cayman Islands, assessments are ongoing to determine the full extent of the damage.

Michelle Muschett, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, expressed solidarity with the affected communities and pledged support for recovery efforts. “We are deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life, the impact on livelihoods and infrastructures as well as the suffering caused to communities by this hurricane,” she said.

Kishan Khoday, UNDP Resident Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda, Belize, the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, and Turks and Caicos Islands, reiterated UNDP’s commitment to providing immediate assistance and long-term support for climate adaptation and disaster resilience in the face of increasingly frequent and intense storms.

Beryl, the second named storm of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, underscores the escalating threat posed by climate change. Elevated ocean temperatures, worsened by the 2023-24 El Niño phenomenon, have created conditions ripe for an exceptionally active hurricane season, with forecasts predicting 20-25 storms, including 8-12 hurricanes.

As the region manages the aftermath of Beryl and prepares for potential future storms, UNDP is committed to continuing its support for prevention, preparedness, and recovery efforts, working diligently to help the Caribbean build resilience in the face of an increasingly uncertain climate future.

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