Ireland pledges 100,000 euros aid for Caribbean flood victims

DUBLIN (AFP) May 26, 2004
Ireland said Wednesday it will provide up to 100,000 euros (121 million dollars) in emergency humanitarian assistance for victims of rainstorms and floods in Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Torrential rains on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola -- shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic -- have caused widespread devastation.

"Reports are still coming in regarding casualty figures from the disaster," said Ireland's development cooperation minister Tom Kitt.

"It appears that more than 500 people have perished and there are still many families listed as being missing. More than 13,000 people have lost their homes," he said.

The latest Irish funding comes on top of 500,000 euros already provided to assist victims of disturbances in Haiti in March.

TERRA.WIRE