IDB approves US$40mn in post-hurricane aid for CentAm, Dominican Rep

IDB approved a US$40mn emergency response for Central American countries and the Dominican Republic after they were battered by recent hurricanes. 

The funds are to provide relief for the countries affected by hurricanes Julia, Fiona and Lisa, that took dozens of lives and damaged infrastructure and housing. 

The funding, which will be available with immediate effect, includes grants to Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the Dominican Republic, as well as contingent loans for Nicaragua and El Salvador, and the reallocation of funds for Honduras, according to a statement. 

According to the Washington, DC-based development bank, in recent years it has approved six contingent emergency loans to manage natural disasters and health issues in Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and the Dominican Republic, funds that can be activated when necessary. 

Apart from emergency aid, IDB is advancing a resiliency agenda to understand disaster risk, strengthen disaster risk governance, invest in disaster risk reduction for resilience and enhance disaster preparedness.  

In October, Hurricane Julia left at least 26 people dead and four missing in Guatemala and El Salvador.