OAS Concerned Over Active Hurricane Season

Hurricanes currently beating down on several Caribbean countries are a major concern to the Organization of American States

Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza said the OAS has already begun consultations with the mechanisms of the inter-American system and with other key international bodies to determine what assistance can be rendered.

"We are very much seized of the troubling development of hurricanes,” said Insulza, noting the organization is also “mindful that these storms have come very early in the season this year.”

He expressed particular concern that the present storms, such as Emily, could deal a severe economic setback to several countries because the hurricane phenomena have been widely observed to be increasing in intensity in recent years, and there is still a long way before the end of the traditional hurricane season.

The OAS´ concern also revolves around the potential reach of these natural disasters -into Central America, Mexico and the United States as well- and the resulting loss of life witnessed especially in recent years.