Over 100 Americans stranded in St Vincent following the eruption of the La Soufriere volcano on April 9 were transported out of the island on Friday to St Maarten.
The American embassy in Bridgetown said Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship, Celebrity Reflection carried 159 passengers, including 108 Americans, to Philipsburg for onward travel.
The embassy coordinated with Royal Caribbean for the departure at no cost to the passengers, following the closure of the Argyle airport in St Vincent last week because of the volcanic eruption.
“Our humanitarian relief efforts in St Vincent continue,” a media release from Royal Caribbean said.
“Much-needed water deliveries were made by Serenade of the Seas [on Thursday] and more relief supplies are on the way. We stand ready to provide any additional assistance.”
The embassy said the US government is also mobilising much needed relief to the people of St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG).
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) funded US $140 000 in immediate assistance to emergency evacuation centres, evacuation transportation to residents in the danger zone, and the distribution of emergency food and relief supplies, including hygiene kits, fuel, mattresses and portable stoves.
The embassy said the funding agency is also supporting the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency’s (CDEMA) work with St Vincent’s National Emergency Management Office (NEMO) and upgrades to its emergency operation centres.
NEMO is led by Michelle Forbes, to whom the embassy awarded a Fulbright Scholarship 13 years ago.
She completed her master’s degree in Public Administration and Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management at Georgia State University.
(AR)
