Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, May 31, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Local officials on the island of Hispaniola are complaining about the lack of help from the federal government to assist those affected by floods on the island, pointing out that the greatest assistance has come from the Catholic Church.
Officials said help from the government “is not coming in the quantity and with the urgency” that it is needed, adding that the Church has been organizing the distribution of food and assistance provided by international organizations, private business, official entities and individual donors.
It is not known how much assistance has arrived to the island. However, Father Jose Ramon de la Cruz of St. Joseph’s Parish and National Guard officials are keeping a record of the material that is arriving as well as the areas to which it is being shipped.
International agencies have begun sending first aid to the affected areas to help treat the wounded.