THE UNITED NATIONS WORLD FOOD

Published purpose

April 2021 – On April 9, the La Soufrière volcano erupted on the north side of the Caribbean island Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. An evacuation order was issued for the “red zone” around the volcano, which has since erupted several more times, expelling volcanic ash, magma, and other debris on Saint Vincent and several other Caribbean islands. The ongoing eruption resulted in the evacuation of over 13,000 people (12% of the island’s population) and disrupted the lives and livelihoods of a significant proportion of the population. This has worsened existing vulnerabilities, including high poverty levels (36%) among those living in the evacuated areas and the ongoing effects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Scientists warn that eruptions could continue for days - or even weeks, making the task of rebuilding the lives of thousands of displaced persons even more challenging. With GAC's help, the World Food Programme (WFP) distributes emergency food assistance and cash/vouchers, provides technical support for in-kind/cash transfer programs and provides common logistics services.