Help After Hurricane Richard

When hurricane Richard hit Belize on October 24 of last year, it wreaked havoc on the coast on Southside Belize, specifically the Yabra area. Well assistance is coming, so the next time a hurricane hit Belize, it won't inundate Yabra the way hurricane Richard did. The Inter-American Development Bank - the IDB- has approved a $10 million loan to improve drainage and road infrastructure in Belize City. In a press release sent out today by the IDB, it stated that the five-year program will help rehabilitate and maintain 3,300 miles of canals, increasing their drainage capacity and reducing the frequency and duration of floods.

Interventions will also include construction of side drains and resurfacing of streets affected by recent flooding, covering a total of 22,700 square miles of road surface. Implementing an integrated approach towards improving living conditions in Belize City, the project will also recover urban spaces, including green areas, sidewalks and cycle-paths.

These interventions will increase porous areas, reducing runoff and enhance living conditions and improve citizens' perception of the City, reducing littering and related maintenance needs.

The total cost of the program will be $10.75 million, including $750,000 in counterpart funds provided by the Government of Belize.

Channel 7