THE Ministry of Labour and Social Security has been providing relief assistance to victims of natural or man-made disasters through its Emergency Assistance Grant.

Under the initiative, people receive a cash grant of up to $75,000 while also being provided with in-kind support, such as food, toiletries and bedding.

Acting director for disaster, rehabilitation and welfare management in the ministry Jacqueline Shepherd explained that the facility is designed to provide relief assistance to individuals affected by flooding, earthquakes, fire or any other emergency that might happen because of a disaster.

“When some agencies just operate in the hurricane season from June to November, the ministry, as the primary agency with responsibility for social protection and is one of seven committees of the National Disaster Risk Management Council, known as the Humanitarian Assistance Committee, is in a protracted response mode at all times, so we respond to every disaster,” Shepherd said.

She told JIS News that one of the main areas of assistance provided is to persons affected by household fires.

“Once there’s a fire and we are informed of the fire, our first response is in-kind support, such as bedding, toiletries, food, mattress and so on, and then once a person is able to produce the fire report, they can get some monetary assistance. So, they can come into the office and make the application, and they are provided with monetary assistance. But our first response is relief items,” Shepherd noted.

The acting director explained that the ministry is often informed of a fire by the persons affected, the Member of Parliament, the parish disaster coordinator, Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, Jamaica Fire Brigade, or it will be seen on television.

“Our social worker goes out and they do the investigation. Once the fire report is available, they come into the parish office and then make the application to get the monetary assistance,” Shepherd said.

“Our remit is not really housing, so if you are completely burnt out or you’re partly burnt… the support that we’re giving is in-kind and you get a cheque [which] is supposed to provide immediate relief. You would know what it is that you need immediately… to put back your life together,” she added.

Shepherd also said that referrals are made to other agencies for additional support.

Meanwhile, the acting director said the initiative has been impactful, as “we have changed the way a number of persons live, survive and are able to bounce back quickly after a disaster or an emergency”.

She pointed out, however, that different approaches are taken when the disaster is on a national level.