Bridgetown, Barbados, October 8, 2008 (CDERA) – The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) has received US$25,000 from the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and Chevron Corporation to go towards the purchase of relief items to assist persons affected by the recent impact of Hurricane Ike on the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI).

Grand Turk and South Caicos were declared Disaster Areas after Ike a Category Four Hurricane and Tropical Storm Hanna moved across the TCI early last month. The population was severely affected as a result of the significant damage to both islands.

More than 90% of the houses were damaged with about one third totally destroyed or significantly damaged on South Caicos and one fifth on Grand Turk.

In making the donation on October 2, 2008, Paul Fisher, Director of Corporate Relations and Development of PADF indicated that the money is to be spent on acquiring items which appeared on the needs list published by CDERA in the Hurricane Ike: Situation Report #3 on Turks and Caicos Islands.

In the immediate aftermath of the storm CDERA mobilized and coordinated the response to conduct initial damage assessments and identify priority needs.  This week, Jeremy Collymore, the CDERA Coordinator, will be visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands to discuss outstanding needs that can be supported from this donation and other pledges that have been channeled through the CDERA Coordinating Unit.

Many agencies and individuals have been contributing and supporting the Government and people of the TCI in their relief and recovery efforts