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Volcanic eruption moves student - 3rd May 2021

An 18 year old British student is supporting the relief effort on St Vincent in the Caribbean, following the eruption of the island's volcano, La Soufrière.

Shelena Artman is from Bristol, UK, and is fundraising for islanders after 20,000 were forced to flee their homes in early April. As St Vincent was her father's and grandfather's place of birth, the island is close to her heart. Her grandfather escaped from the lava flow as a baby during another eruption in 1902.

Moved by the scenes of St Vincent, which is currently blanketed in a dense layer of volcanic ash, Shelena commented: "It's a beautiful island and just to see it all covered in grey, it was heartbreaking and devastating and I felt quite helpless."

Her father declared he'd never witnessed anything like it. "It looks like snow but of course it's much more dangerous," he said, "and it's ruining the vegetation".

Shelena explained that two collection points have been established in Bristol, where she also assists as a volunteer. Donations of blow-up beds, toiletries, face masks and other essentials are welcomed. Such aid efforts will help those islanders displaced by the eruption. Approximately 4,000 are housed in 87 shelters, although many lack basic essentials such as drinking water.

A UN spokesperson has cautioned that the humanitarian crisis on St Vincent may be prolonged, lasting several months. The primary focus for aid workers is water provision and then shelter for those evacuated. For the sake of returning island life back to normality and for environmental health, cleaning up the ash will be the next major concern.