Minister Delegate for Overseas Jean-François Carenco, who arrived in Guadeloupe on Wednesday, September 21, promised a natural disaster decree "
before Saturday
" and emergency aid, among other things to make river water drinkable, four days later. the passage of storm Fiona which caused serious damage to the island and killed one person.
In Pointe-à-Pitre, Jean-François Carenco assured the press that he had come "
as a sign of government support
" and to express "
publicly the affection of the Nation at a time when Guadeloupe is suffering
".
Tropical storm Fiona, which has since become a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, hit Guadeloupe over the weekend, with strong winds, torrential rains and floods that killed one person.
The president of the department, Guy Losbar, called in a press release for a "
major reconstruction plan
" for Guadeloupe, costing "
more than a billion euros
".
"Making water drinkable"
On Wednesday, nearly 60,000 customers (individuals or businesses) were still without water there due to significant damage to network facilities.
Such as the Center Hospitalier de Basse-Terre, which made it known that this compromised its proper functioning and the continuity of care.
"
Very large works are to be expected
" for the return to service of the water network, indicated the Mixed Syndicate of Water Management and Sanitation of Guadeloupe (SMGEAG), evoking at least "
several weeks
" before returning to normal.
A plane and 40 reinforcements bringing "
a machine capable of making river water drinkable
must arrive Wednesday evening in Guadeloupe in order to make up for the shortcomings in the most affected areas, announced Jean-François Carenco.
The minister also promised that the natural disaster decree would be published "
before Saturday
".
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The Orsec (Organization of the civil security response) drinking water system was implemented "
as soon as the event ended and remains mobilized
", also assured the minister in a letter addressed to the deputy of Guadeloupe Olivier Serra, who had demanded the triggering of this device.
In Guadeloupe, many activists have been asking for a long time for the establishment of this plan in a sustainable way, because of the critical situation of the water networks on the island, which are dilapidated and which do not ensure the distribution of drinking water for all. .
One thousand people affected
The ministerial visit continued in the commune of Goyave.
The mud is still there everywhere.
On the walls, sometimes over a meter high in the houses, bare.
The debris was taken out to the street, where diggers cleared mud and rubbish.
In some places, the overflow of the sewers, mixed with the mud, spreads a pestilential smell.
Everywhere the inhabitants find accommodation, help each other, while waiting for more lasting solutions, of which no one knows when they will arrive.
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The municipality has not finished listing the damage.
Mayor Ferdy Louisy mentions 200 homes and more than 1,000 people affected for the Aiguille social housing area.
“
I was sleeping, I woke up in the dark when the meter tripped and I realized that I had water around my waist
,” said Minister Julie Di Omede, 52.
“
I can't afford to buy back everything I lost: my fridge, my mattress, the food, my clothes.
I don't even have my papers anymore
,” she continues.
"Nothing"
Further on, Lydie Loudac, 64, says she failed to get carried away by the raging waves.
A man, his pants still muddy, is worried about the many children in the city.
"
They have nothing left, no more school books, no more school supplies, and then they no longer have a school
," says Yohan Fetama, 38.
The elected officials try to reassure: "
We have identified the needs with the rectorate, we collect donations, it is organized
".
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The road network of the archipelago suffered from the passage of the storm.
“
About fifteen bridges are weakened
,” said the prefect, Alexandre Rochatte, during the same press briefing.
On Wednesday, in Capesterre-Belle-Eau (south-east of the island of Basse-Terre), a tourist town having been very affected by the flooding of the rivers, the mayor issued orders to prohibit passage by certain bridges "
given of the risk of collapse
.
