Hurricane Beryl caused significant destruction to the Grenadian islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, along with various islands in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, such as Union Island and Mayreau.
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has taken significant action in response to the destruction wrought by Hurricane Beryl, contributing over half a million US dollars to support disaster relief and reconstruction efforts in the Caribbean nations that were severely affected.
Hurricane Beryl caused extensive damage to the Grenadian islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, as well as several islands in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, including Union Island and Mayreau. The storm also had a lesser impact on Saint Lucia and Barbados.
Mr. Okechukwu Ihejirika, Acting Chief Operating Officer of Afreximbank's Caribbean Office, presented a letter of solidarity from Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, to the Prime Ministers of the four affected nations.
In his letter, Prof. Oramah emphasized that the affected countries are part of the 11 Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations engaged with Afreximbank through a Partnership Treaty established between the Bank and CARICOM Member States. He underscored the importance of the Bank's support during this challenging time.
“The news of the hurricane’s impact has deeply saddened us, and our thoughts are with everyone affected by that devastating event. However, the strength and resilience of Caribbean people is well-known; we have no doubt that these qualities will shine through during this difficult period,” stated President Oramah.
In addition to fulfilling its trade and development responsibilities, the Bank actively seeks to assist countries in managing global climate and health crises, particularly in light of the increasing frequency and severity of such disasters in Africa and the Caribbean.