New York Attorney General Letitia James has warned New Yorkers to be cautious in charitable giving for Caribbean hurricane relief.
James urged New Yorkers on Friday to be careful in supporting relief efforts in response to the devastating effects of Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica and across some Caribbean islands.
She said The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) warns New Yorkers to be ‘wary of sham charities attempting to take advantage of their concern’ and encourages everyone to ensure they are donating to legitimate charitable efforts and organizations.
‘My heart breaks for the victims of Hurricane Melissa, and I thank the brave first responders who have jumped into action to provide aid,’ said Attorney General James. ‘As New Yorkers seek to support relief efforts, I urge them to be careful of sham charities that prey on generosity and make sure they are giving to trustworthy organizations and groups.
‘I encourage anyone who experiences any issues when donating to contact my office,’ she added.
James warned that fraudulent organizations can try to take advantage of New Yorkers’ good intentions, especially following natural disasters.
‘Given the significant impact of Hurricane Melissa across the Caribbean, it is essential for New Yorkers to be informed as they seek to help those in need,’ she said.
‘Find Out Who Is Soliciting. If you receive a solicitation by email, find out who is behind that email address. Contact the charity whose name is in the email or visit its website to find out if the email is really from the charity,’ she urged. ‘Do not give personal information or your credit card number in response to an email solicitation unless you have checked out the charity.
‘Before giving through social media or fundraising sites, research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity,’ James added. ‘Online platforms that host groups and individuals soliciting for causes may not thoroughly vet those who use their service. Donors should only give to campaigns conducted by people whom they know. Donors also should take a close look at the site’s FAQs (frequently asked questions) and Terms and Conditions to see what fees will be charged.
‘Also, don’t assume that charities recommended on social media sites, blogs, or other websites have already been vetted,’ she continued. ‘Research the charity yourself to confirm that the charity is aware of the campaign and has given its approved permission for the use of its name or logo. If available, sign up for updates from the campaign organizer to keep abreast of how contributions to the campaign are being spent.’
Meantime, as the Caribbean reels from the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa, the United Nations said on Friday that humanitarian agencies are stepping up efforts to bring relief to thousands of affected people.
The UN said torrential rain, storm surges and landslides caused by the hurricane have left a trail of destruction across the region, with homes flattened, roads and bridges washed away, and vast areas still without power or Internet access and other telecommunications.
The UN humanitarian affairs office (OCHA) said that aid supplies are on the way and that emergency teams are supporting government responses in Jamaica, Cuba and Haiti.
In Jamaica, the UN said its World Food Program (WFP) has assisted the government with logistics, communications, and cash-based support, delivering 5,000 food kits – enough to feed 15,000 people for a week.
The situation in the southern part of the country remains ‘apocalyptic’, with homes submerged, roads blocked, and people sleeping in the streets, said Brian Bogart, WFP Country Director.
Despite this, Bogart noted that prior preparedness efforts had helped speed up the response, but he emphasized that Jamaica’s resilience ‘must now be supported.’
The UN said it is deploying emergency medical teams, supporting water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) efforts, providing psychological care, and assisting with disease surveillance.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is preparing to send 5.5 tons of humanitarian aid, including health and trauma kits, medical backpacks, tents, water supplies, mosquito nets, and personal protective equipment, the UN said.
More than 284,000 Jamaican children are now in urgent need of support in the areas of health, education, nutrition, and protection, said the local UN child agency, UNICEF team.
‘Yesterday, we were on our way to Black River in St. Elizabeth, one of the hardest hit areas, but the roads were blocked with fallen trees and power lines, and this prevented us from reaching the most affected communities,’ said the top UNICEF official on the island, Olga Isaza.
The UN said the agency is responding swiftly to support the government and other partners to assess the needs and deliver pre-positioned supplies including food, clean water, medicines, and emergency hygiene kits. Additional humanitarian aid is ready to be airlifted, the UN said.
Meanwhile, from its Regional Strategic Stockpile in Panama, the UN said PAHO has dispatched 2.6 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba.
The UN said the shipment includes emergency kits with medicines, medical, and surgical supplies sufficient to care for 5,000 people for three months.
It also includes chlorine tablets to treat millions of liters of water, along with essential medical and shelter supplies, the UN said.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that, in eastern Cuba, ‘preliminary assessments indicate severe damage across Santiago, Holguín, Granma and Guantánamo, including to homes, roads, and health facilities,’ adding that ‘hundreds of communities remain isolated, and access continues to be hampered by damaged road, rail, and air transport infrastructure.’
Dujarric said that once ground communications are restored, supplies will be sent to the most affected areas of eastern Cuba.
He said that the UN ‘along with our partners are supporting national authorities with assessments and early recovery plans.’