When Hurricane Beryl struck the Caribbean in early July 2024, the islands of Carriacou, Grenada, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines experienced widespread devastation. Homes, critical infrastructure, electricity networks, and communications systems were severely damaged, leaving local capacities overwhelmed and access to affected areas highly constrained.
In response, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) activated a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) mission to support rapid needs assessments and the coordination of international assistance.
Deployment of Luxembourg UNDAC Roster Member
At OCHA’s request, Luxembourg deployed a member of it’s national UNDAC roster to join the UNDAC team during the earliest phase of the emergency. The Luxembourg representative contributed to field assessments, strengthened coordination with national authorities and humanitarian partners, and supported the re‑establishment of essential operational functions. Read more about his deployment here.
International Humanitarian Partnership Support to UNDAC Mission
Within the framework of the International Humanitarian Partnership (IHP), Luxembourg further reinforced the response by deploying two camp technicians and ICT experts on 5 July 2024 with specialized logistical and communications expertise. Working alongside IHP partners, the team established a light humanitarian base camp on Carriacou, providing accommodation, workspace, and a coordination platform for international responders operating on the island.
A critical component of the deployment was the installation and operation of the emergency.lu satellite connectivity platform. With terrestrial networks largely destroyed, this system restored secure internet and communications, enabling UNDAC, OCHA, Grenada’s National Disaster Management Agency, and humanitarian partners to coordinate relief efforts, share assessments, and maintain vital information flows.
The deployment was carried out by the CGDIS humanitarian intervention team (HIT) under a government mandate. Through the combined efforts of CGDIS, emergency.lu, IHP partners, and the UNDAC team, Luxembourg played a key role in restoring coordination, communications, and operational capacity at a critical moment for hurricane‑affected communities.
