NEMO Begins Damage Assessment in Toledo Following State of Emergency

While firefighting and search and rescue operations have been ongoing since Friday, by firefighters and the Belize Defence Force, NEMO says its work is just beginning. Today, the organization’s Damage and Needs Assessment Committee was on the ground in Toledo along with the Area Representative for Toledo West, Oscar Requena. As we reported, a state of public emergency has been declared for the district. But what does it entail? Captain Daniel Mendez, NEMO’s National Emergency Coordinator, spoke about the genesis of the decision and what it means for residents of the affected areas. 

Captain Daniel Mendez, National Emergency Management Organization: “This came about because we had noted that the impact had been really severe in many of the agricultural areas of San Pedro Colombia, Crique Jute, and it was such that we needed to elevate it to a higher level so that we are able to provide really to determine what level of assistance we would be able to provide the affected communities. So the declaration allows us to be able to mobilize more resources and also to reach out to our other partners who would be able to provide that other level of support that these communities would need. And so it’s important for us to be able to highlight that this is a disaster area and so we will be able to coordinate assistance that we would be determining.”

Over the weekend, Minister of Disaster Risk Management, Andre Perez also visited the area to assess the situation.