Spanish Navy vessel dispatches to Cape Verde carrying 7 metric tons of AECID humanitarian relief
In response to the humanitarian emergency caused by the heavy rains and winds of August 10, a Spanish naval vessel loaded with 720 family hygiene kits has set sail from Las Palmas, bound for Cape Verde. The shipment, coordinated with the Ministry of Defense, is a response to an appeal from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).
The hygiene kits, provided by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), are designed to cover the needs of five people for a month. Each kit includes essential items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and other hygiene supplies. The shipment will supply 3,600 people for a month, offering much-needed relief to those affected by the floods.
The floods have left many homes destroyed and health centers flooded, affecting more than 119,000 people in Cape Verde. At least nine deaths have been reported due to these floods, and the situation deepens an already critical context, with a state of contingency throughout the country due to the risk of dengue propagation and the reintroduction of malaria.
Isolated communities have been particularly affected, and the Red Cross in Cape Verde, with the support of the IFRC, is providing emergency aid, clean water, shelter, and healthcare to the affected population. AECID considers the IFRC an essential ally for Spanish humanitarian action in initiatives to defend the fundamental rights of the most vulnerable people worldwide.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union, and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, confirmed the departure of the Spanish naval vessel. He expressed concern about the scarcity or lack of access to water and hygiene difficulties, which increase the danger of outbreaks of other infections. AECID is planning to increase its funding to Cape Verde in the development sector to contribute to the reconstruction of affected areas and the recovery of the population's livelihoods.
The intense rains of August 10, associated with tropical storm Erin, caused devastating floods in the islands of San Vicente and San Antonio of Cape Verde. The AECID material on the vessel weighs a total of 7 tons (30 m3). The Minister has urged for continued international support to help Cape Verde in its recovery efforts.
