SAVE THE CHILDREN READY TO RESPOND TO HURRICANE MARIA

Save the Children is standing by ready to respond to Hurricane Maria, expected to make landfall in the Dominican Republic in the coming hours.    

Wednesday, 20 September 2017 - 10:22pm

Alba Rodriguez, Save the Children Country Director in Dominican Republic says: 

“Hurricane Maria is currently barrelling towards the same areas of the Dominican Republic that were hit by Hurricane Irma just two weeks ago, when 24,000 people were evacuated and 1.2 million were left with no safe drinking water. It has rained constantly since then, leaving the ground saturated and rivers swollen. As a result there’s an increased risk of mudslides, rivers bursting their banks and flooding, as the storm is predicted to take a full day to pass over the country." 

"Families who lost everything to Hurricane Irma are ill prepared to withstand another monster storm. We are concerned for the emotional wellbeing of children who have barely had time to recover from seeing  their homes devastated  and their lives turned upside down.  Hurricanes create increased risk of flooding and water borne illnesses." 

"Save the Children has safe drinking water, water purification tablets and hygiene kits including soap and mosquito nets ready to distribute as needed as soon as it is safe to do so.”

For any interview requests, please call +44 (0) 7831 650 409  or email media@savethechildren.org.uk