Panama City, Feb 10 (RHC)-- Nearly five months since hurricanes Irma and Maria lashed the Caribbean, the recovery effort remains long and at times uneven, a top Red Cross representative has cautioned.

The devastation brought on by these hurricanes is extreme, and there is a long road to travel before recovery is achieved, said Elhadj As Sy, Secretary General of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

As Sy, who visited Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, and Dominica, said he saw “the dedication and endurance” of Red Cross staff and volunteers working alongside communities that lost everything and have had to start rebuilding their lives from scratch.

The Red Cross official stressed the need for urgent investment in programs designed to strengthen resilience and help communities withstand the impact of future storms.