(MENAFN- Arab News) BEIJING/ROSEAU: China is offering $300000 as emergency humanitarian assistance for storm-devastated Dominica the Commerce Ministry announced Saturday.
The funds are meant 'to convey the Chinese government and people's sympathy and support to the government and people of Dominica' to assist in the start of disaster relief and support housing reconstruction the ministry said in a statement on its website.
Dominica a small island country of about 72000 people was hit by Tropical Storm Erika on Friday leaving at least 20 people dead.
Erika churned across the Caribbean on Saturday a day after sweeping over the tiny island nation of Dominica and leaving at least 20 people dead.
The storm's passage came exactly 10 years after Hurricane Katrina battered parts the southern US devastating New Orleans in particular.
'The visual damage I saw today I fear may have set our development process back by 20 years' Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said after surveying the damage.
'Of greatest concern however is the loss of life. So far we have confirmed that at least 20 citizens have died and some are missing' he said.
Highways sustained widespread damage and bridges were washed away he said.
The US state of Florida declared a state of emergency and Cuba issued an alert as well as the storm rolled toward them. The US National Hurricane Center said Erika would likely weaken to a tropical depression as it passes over Cuba.
After pounding Dominica Erika drenched Haiti where authorities set up emergency shelters across the country. Hygiene kits mattresses and food were stocked at some 2000 temporary shelters which are able to accommodate more than 47000 people.
According to an initial tally three people were injured in the Port-au-Prince region when a house collapsed. Flooding was reported in two regions after heavy rains.
Many homes in Haiti are rickety at best and more than 60000 people are still living in emergency housing around Port-au-Prince following the country's devastating 2010 earthquake that killed more than 250000 people and crippled the nation's infrastructure.
Haiti is located on the western half of the island of Hispaniola which also includes the Dominican Republic.
Erika was expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of three to six inches (7.6 to 15.2 cms) with maximum amounts of 10 inches possible across portions of the Dominican Republic Haiti and eastern Cuba through Sunday the hurricane center said.