The Mejia administration spent US$75 million on the purchase of 36 helicopters in 2001, supposedly for relief operations, but the passing of Tropical Storm Noel shows that this could have been yet another corruption scam. As reported on the Nuria & Huchi radio talk show, the US Eximbank-financed, Sun Land Corporation deal with the former administration resulted in the country receiving only 16 of the 36 contracted helicopters, and most of these were inadequate for relief operations, as has become apparent when they were most needed.
Yesterday President Leonel Fernandez has asked neighboring countries to send helicopters to the DR to help with the evacuation efforts and the evacuation of people in flooded areas. According to the Emergency Operations Center (COE), 52 communities are isolated because of the storm. Fernandez called for the evacuation of 36 communities and a red alert has been maintained for 30 provinces.
Diario Libre reports that Venezuela is sending engineers and equipment to help rebuild roads and bridges. Venezuelan ambassador Francisco Belisario Landis made the announcement on behalf of his government. Belisario said that the Venezuelan embassy would become a humanitarian assistance center. US embassy press secretary David Searby said that the embassy was waiting to see what is needed.

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