Baroness Ludford urges an immediate response for the victims of Hurricane Ivan

Speech by Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP delivered to European Parliament on Mon 13th Sep 2004

Mr President, I would like to raise the issue of the situation in the Caribbean and Florida with regard to the terrible destruction being wrought by Hurricane Ivan and indeed by the two previous hurricanes, Charlie and Francis.

Firstly I want us to express our condolences to and solidarity with all those who have suffered bereavement, injury and loss. As MEP for London, I am conscious that many of my constituents originating from places like Grenada, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands have families there who have been affected.

Secondly, I want to urge a generous response from the EU and Member States for humanitarian aid to the countries and communities that have been devastated. I hope that the rapid response mechanism of ECHO can be invoked.

Lastly, conscious that we next have on the agenda a Commission statement on recent environmental disasters in southern Europe, I want to insist on the likely connection between this terrible season for Caribbean hurricanes, typhoons in the South China Sea and indeed the wettest summer in Britain for 40 years, and the effects of climate change and global warming. One could also mention the devastating floods in Bangladesh in July.

We must all make this a top priority, including the new US Administration. We in the West must curb our profligate use of energy because it is the poor in the south and east and even hard-pressed European farmers who suffer if we do not.