United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) made an appeal on Friday for global assistance to prepare Haiti, a nation plagued by violence, for a perilous atlantic hurricane season that poses a significant threat to the island’s numerous displaced population.
The atlantic hurricane season, which typically commences in June and extends through November, is anticipated to be particularly severe this year. Haiti, ravaged by a crisis fueled by gangs, faces significant challenges, with an estimated 360,000 individuals displaced across the Caribbean nation.
UNICEF representative, Bruno Maes, said, “With every cyclone, every tornado, every flood, children will lose their homes, their livelihoods, their lives, and the season has barely started.
“Support from the international community is essential for us to enhance our preparedness and response capabilities for the worst-case scenarios.”
UNICEF highlighted a tornado in northern Haiti in late May, that displaced around 4,350 individuals, signalling a potential catastrophic cyclone season.
In preparation for the upcoming season, the agency is strategically placing food, medical supplies, and essential items to expedite aid distribution in Haiti.
However, the presence of armed groups controlling supply routes poses challenges and risks for humanitarian efforts.
Climate change-induced warming of ocean temperatures, combined with the periodic La Nina phenomenon, has led meteorologists to anticipate an extremely active hurricane season.
According to Colorado State University, the Atlantic region may experience up to 23 named storms, with 11 potentially becoming hurricanes.
The atlantic season of the previous year ranked as the fourth most active in history, recording a total of 20 named storms.
During a summit held last month, leaders representing small island developing states, predominantly in the Caribbean region, called upon affluent nations to fulfill their commitments to reduce emissions. Additionally, they requested assistance for heavily indebted island nations in coping with the effects of climate change.
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