MYO contributes $4M in supplies to St Vincent relief

…next shipment to leave next week

The Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) has made a massive contribution of non-perishable food supplies and cleaning agents to the St Vincentian relief efforts, valued at some $4 million.

Government has been gearing its efforts with partnering stakeholders in the Private Sector and civil society to send relief items to St Vincent and the Grenadines – which has been facing continued threats from volcanic activities.
While the first shipment of 350 tonnes arrived in the country on Saturday morning, water was also sent in a second consignment.
According to Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, these relief supplies will be sent in the third delivery to the island, in keeping with Guyana’s pledge of continued support for its fellow Caricom member.
“They have provided a substantive donation, inclusive of food items; rice, sugar, flour, chowmein. They also have sanitisation and hygiene items and personal protective equipment. These items are keeping with the needs list provided by St Vincent and the Grenadines…This support will be packed with the items that is scheduled to depart in the new week,” Craig highlighted.
Vice President of the MYO, Imran Ally explained that they would have mobilised donors to come on board with the initiative and is planning to garner more items for another contribution. Especially during the holy month of Ramadan currently celebrated, the focus is placed on generosity to the vulnerable.
“The Muslim Youth Organisation has been known over the years to be a generous organisation and more so, in this time of need, we have contacted our members and they would have given us these donations to make to the Government and people of St Vincent. More so, in this month of Ramadan, the Muslims have become more generous so we sought it fit to give this donation so that the Government and people of St Vincent can benefit,” Ally shared.
Last Tuesday, a vessel disembarked Guyana en route to St Vincent and the Grenadines with needed items to the affected people.
The vessel set sail with food supplies, 10,000 hygiene kits, 5000 disinfectants, over 100,000 bottles of water of varying sizes, 6000 water tanks, 10,000 folding cots, 30,000 blankets, 1000 sleeping mats, 1000 respirator masks among other items.
The La Soufrière volcano started erupting last Friday and heavy ashfall left most of St Vincent and the Grenadines coated in thick ash and prompted immediate evacuation for over 14,000 people. (G12)