Volcanic Ash Covers Ground in St Vincent as UN Warns of Humanitarian Crisis

Ash was seen on the streets of Chateaubelair, St Vincent, on April 13, as the UN warned a regional humanitarian crisis in the wake of volcanic eruptions could last for “more than six months.”

In a statement released on April 14, Didier Trebucq, the UN resident coordinator for Barbados and the Caribbean, said: “We are expecting that continuous explosions and ash fall will continue over the coming weeks in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, but also in neighbouring islands such as Barbados, which has also been severely affected…as well as Saint Lucia and Grenada.”

Trebucq added that providing clean water to those displaced was the top priority.

St Vincent’s La Soufriere volcano erupted again on April 13.

The National Emergency Management Organization of St Vincent and the Grenadines said the eruption was “not as energetic” as other recent activity, but warned that more eruptions were possible. Credit: @kayjae87 via Storyful