By Leonardo Blair, Staff ReporterSOME $26 million dollars in aid put together by the French Embassy here in Jamaica is expected to arrive in the island today to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Ivan.
A release from the French Embassy yesterday stated that, "responding to the requests of the Jamaican authorities and to show its solidarity with the victims, France has already dispatched from Martinique the ship Francis Garnier of the French Navy, with humanitarian aid."
The ship is expected to arrive in the island early this afternoon and will include several tonnes of supplies. Included in the shipment are 11 tonnes of freight supplied by the DAH (Delegation for Humanitarian Aid) in Fort-de-France, Martinique, 50 tents, 120 blankets, 500 tarpaulin covers, and 20 generators.
Ten tonnes of infant formula, drinking water, and agricultural tools have also been provided by the Carrefour International Foundation through its Guadeloupe branch, while some 90 tonnes of freight collected in Guadeloupe by the 'Caribbean Solidarity Group 2004' is expected.
It was pointed out also that the major services of the French State (the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, National Security, Defence and Health) which have been exceptionally mobilised, other professional and charitable associations, and in particular from the people of the French West Indies, have also come together to offer an outpouring of assistance to the hurricane-ravaged victims in Jamaica.
France has already sent emergency workers and several dozen tonnes of humanitarian aid at a cost of J$22m to Grenada. It is also readying itself to assist the populations of Haiti (dispatching two military aircraft from Martinique loaded with five tons of humanitarian aid), and those of the Dominican Republic, also victims of Hurricane Jeanne.
