Floods damage homes, evacuees get help

La Vega, Dominican Republic.-The Government’s Social Assistance Plan on Thursday sent aid to families in several north region communities drenched by the downpours which have damaged nearly 400 homes and forced the evacuation of thousands of people thus far.

Ready-meals to feed around 20,000 people, as well as hundreds of blankets, mosquito nets, mattresses and other items to deal with the emergency.

The aid was distributed in towns and villages of La Vega, San Francisco, Santiago and Salcedo bring relief to communities under as much as two feet of floodwater from swelled rivers and creeks, as a trough lingers over the northern half of the country.

Social Plan director César Prieto said the push to ship assistance came after the damage was assessed, on instructions from president Danilo Medina.