‘It’s a humanitarian disaster’ – GRI Founding Director on Puerto Rico, post-storm | Newsweek | Global Resilience Institute

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Destroyed communities are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. The aftermath of the powerful storm has resulted in a near-total shutdown of the U.S. territory’s economy that could last for weeks and has many people running seriously low on cash and worrying that it will become even harder to survive on this storm-ravaged island. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) — Destroyed communities are seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Toa Alta, Puerto Rico, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

“There is significant suffering,” GRI Founding Director Dr. Stephen Flynn said of the conditions in Puerto Rico, during an interview with Newsweek. “It’s a humanitarian disaster, in my view, and needs to be treated that way.”

The island was hit by Hurricane Maria on September 20, wiping out power for the whole population, and leaving many citizen without drinking water, medical care, or communications.

“Anybody who’s already vulnerable and going for a long period of time without power and is reliant on medications, electronic monitoring, medical devices … as the days march on—and the days are marching on—they become a much more frail population,” Dr. Flynn added.

CLICK HERE for the full interview