TIDE helps Hurricane Victims in Corozal District, Belize

Over the past few years Belize has been threatened by many hurricanes.  Some of them landed and caused irreversible damage to some of the flora and fauna in the Toledo District like the Hurricane Iris in 2001.

Celia Mahung (TIDE) presents Belize Red Cross with cash and in-kind donations from Toledo District

This year so far we in Belize can consider ourselves fortunate.  We anticipated the worst from two category five hurricanes and narrowly escaped.  The northern district was hit by the feeder bands of winds with gusts up to one hundred and seventy-five miles per hour from the Hurricane Dean during the morning hours of August 20 2007.

After the winds subsided, the northern section of the country experienced flash flooding and many residents in Corozal lost their belongings and as a result.  Some also lot the roofs of their houses and many were left to remain at the hurricane shelters until better could be had.

TIDE’s management decided at a staff meeting that we need to help the hurricane victims because some of the staff new only too well what happened six years ago.  The Executive Director, Celia Mahung and other staff members organized a relief campaign effort and encouraged residents of the Toledo District to make donations in the form of non-perishable food items and water. 

Staff members went out to the Punta Gorda Central Park on the morning of Saturday immediately after the hurricane to collect donations and received sacks of rice and flour, canned foods and bottled water along with some clothing and footwear.

The food supplies and other items were taken up to Northern Belize by Celia along with other staff.  The supplies were then handed over to the Belize Red Cross representative office in the Corozal District.

TIDE would like to thank all those who contributed items and provided support in any way to this humanitarian effort.  TIDE is a non-profit NGO based in Southern Belize. Visit our home page to find out how you can make a donation to TIDE as we continue our endeavors as effective leaders in ecosystems management and biodiversity conservation that fosters community development and empowers communities to sustainably use the natural resources in Toledo District, Belize.