Praia, 27 ago 2025 (Lusa) - Two experts from the International Federation of the Red Cross will join the three already on Cabo Verde's island of São Vicente by the end of this week to reinforce the response to the storm that caused nine deaths.
"The three specialists who have arrived are working with our team, in liaison with the authorities and the National Civil Protection Service, to assess what has been done, identify needs and prepare the second phase of the post-disaster response," Arlindo Carvalho, president of the Cabo Verde Red Cross (CVCV), told Lusa.
Among them are a water expert from Spain, a disaster management expert from the Federation's office in Dakar and a humanitarian response coordinator from Mexico.
The specialist arriving this Wednesday from Switzerland is an expert in humanitarian logistics, while another, due to arrive this week, will be in charge of the Federation's cooperation programme for the sub-region.
The survey currently underway will enable the necessary equipment and resources to be sent to the affected families.
Donations from various institutions and countries are being managed locally, in liaison with Civil Protection.
The International Federation of the Red Cross has made available an immediate financial fund of around 70 million escudos (more than €639,000) for Cabo Verde's emergency response plan.
It has also launched an international appeal to mobilise resources to help restore normality in São Vicente and support the reconstruction of the local authorities.
Cabo Verde's Red Cross has also launched a national campaign to collect goods and funds to support the populations of São Vicente and Santo Antão.
Volunteers from the organisation are also taking part in the Crisis Office's assessment team on the ground.
The storm on 11 August in São Vicente caused nine deaths, two missing persons, flooded neighbourhoods and damage to roads, houses, bridges and commercial establishments, as well as power outages and vehicles and other goods being swept out to sea.
As a result, the government declared a state of calamity for six months in São Vicente, Porto Novo (Santo Antão) and the two municipalities of São Nicolau.
The government also approved a response plan that includes emergency support for families and economic activities, with subsidised credit lines and non-repayable funds.
To finance the measures, resources are being mobilised from the National Emergency Fund and the Sovereign Emergency Fund, created in 2019 to respond to natural disasters and external shocks.
According to the Minister for Family, Inclusion and Social Development, Fernando Elísio Freire, 74 families, totalling 255 people, are currently in reception centres in São Vicente.
Among them, 12 have lost all their possessions, while 62 are unable to return to their homes, which are deemed unsafe.
RS/ADB // ADB.
Lusa
