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Hurricane Dean and its effects on some older persons in Corozal
 One week after the Hurricane Dean struck Corozal, the NCA’s Programme Officer visited Corozal Town on the 27 and 28 the of August 2007, to seek first hand information on the plight of older persons in that municipality and what was being done to aid them. After interviewing several older persons and having witnessed some of Dean’s devastation, he noted that there was nothing in place to specifically assist older persons in Corozal. In the village of Ranchito just on the outskirts of Corozal Town, an elderly couple whose main source of income is selling fruits, had 20 acres of their fruit trees destroyed along with half their livestock. An elderly woman in Corozal Town was requesting assistance from NEMO after a tree fell on her roof which caused her house to lean. Unfortunately, NEMO Corozal had no post with which to assist her. An elderly gentleman complained of aches in his body and cold. He related how he narrowly escaped with his life when his house fell. He continued by saying that he had to hold on to the fences in order to keep from being carried away by the wind as he made his way to his daughter’s home which was nearby. He also said that he could not access the food which was being delivered on the street and had to go without since the food truck was being rushed by people. Another elderly woman fell ill after her home was destroyed by Hurricane Dean. The Programme Officer then went to the NEMO office in Corozal to inform them of his findings. They then took down the names of the older persons reported promising that they will deal with the matter. The Red Cross was also informed as well as Help Age Corozal whose building suffered roof damage. Sadly, two months later and the situation of the older persons in question has not improved.
Article Created on 12/27/2007
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