Rising from the Ashes: How Saint Vincent is Rebuilding After a Volcanic Eruption

In April 2021, explosive eruptions of the La Soufrière volcano forced more than 22,000 people to evacuate their homes on mainland Saint Vincent. Ash blanketed communities and even reached as far as Barbados in the east. The ash fall disrupted daily life and economic activity almost overnight. Critical infrastructure was damaged, farms and fisheries were severely affected, and thousands of households lost their main sources of income, as well as their roofs. The economic shock was profound: preliminary estimates placed recovery needs at around US$175 million - almost 20 percent of the country's GDP - compounding the strain of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Swift evacuations helped avert loss of life. But as the immediate crisis stabilized, the scale of what lay ahead became clear. Households needed support to regain income and stability, essential services had to be rebuilt with greater resilience, and core emergency response and monitoring systems needed to be strengthened.

In response, the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, with support from the World Bank, launched the US $42 million Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project (VEEP), which benefited from a US $2 million grant from the European Union Caribbean Regional Resilience Building Facility, managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery. The project was designed to support recovery on multiple fronts: providing short-term income support to affected households, restoring critical services, and strengthening emergency preparedness to reduce future risk.

Stabilizing livelihoods in the aftermath of the eruption

For many families, the eruption meant an abrupt loss of income and prolonged uncertainty. Damage to agriculture and fisheries alone was estimated at more than US$60 million, disrupting livelihoods in some of the country's most vulnerable communities.

As part of the recovery effort, the Volcanic Eruption Emergency Project (VEEP) provided temporary cash transfers to more than 4,000 households in the most severely affected areas. Delivered over six months, the transfers ranged from US$110-US$220 monthly, depending on household size.

The project also supported complementary social services. More than 740 households participated in structured programs that included family and psychosocial support, life-skills training, and guidance to help households restore livelihoods and manage income after the shock. These services complemented the cash transfers by helping households stabilize family life, rebuild confidence, and move from short-term relief toward recovery.

Recovery through work and community restoration

Temporary employment was another pillar of the recovery response. Through labor-intensive programs supported under VEEP, over 4,600 people - more than 60 percent of them women -were employed to clear volcanic ash, debris, and floodwater from roads, drainage systems, homes, and public buildings. This work helped restore road access and the use of public buildings, while providing residents with income at a critical time.

Beyond immediate cleanup and income support, recovery efforts also addressed the risks associated with the island's steep landscape - thick layers of ash and debris settled on hillsides. When heavy rains follow eruptions - as they often do - this material can be washed downhill, clogging rivers and triggering floods or landslides that threaten homes, roads, and communities below. To reduce this risk, the project focused on preparing local teams to carry out forest clean-up and stabilization work in these high-risk areas.

Restoring critical services - with resilience in mind

Alongside support for households and employment, the VEEP is addressing damage to critical infrastructure caused by the eruption. Preliminary assessments estimated direct damage of about US$82 million across sectors, with water systems, transport infrastructure, and public facilities among the most affected.

Water security was a major concern. Ashfall and debris damaged parts of the water supply system, including pipelines, storage tanks and points where water is collected, disrupting the provision following the disaster. Heavy rainfall increased the risk of contamination and service interruptions, particularly in communities already facing water scarcity. With the project's support, new groundwater wells were drilled and distribution lines are being constructed to supply drinking water across northern communities in higher-elevation areas. Shifting water supply below ground ensures a more resilient and reliable source of drinking water during future extreme events; a great illustration of how VEEP is helping Saint Vincent build back better.

"The project was designed with immediate response, short-term recovery and medium-to long-term resilience in mind - to help the country be better prepared for future emergencies," said Jared Mercadante, the project's team lead. "Much of the recovery has been carried by local communities themselves, from clearing debris to restoring services. That commitment will continue to be a central part of the recovery."

Transport infrastructure also sustained significant damage. Ash flows and flooding affected over 60 road crossings, disrupting access and, in some cases, temporarily isolating communities. VEEP is supporting the rehabilitation of damaged roads, fords, and bridges to higher standards. Temporary bypass bridges have already restored access in some locations, while permanent bridge construction and road works are underway.

Key public facilities were affected by ashfall and structural damage, including emergency warehouses, seismic monitoring facilities, and agricultural and fisheries infrastructure. With the project's support, emergency warehouses have been retrofitted to expand capacities and ensure relief supplies can be safely stored and accessed during disasters. The seismic observatory is being upgraded with enhanced facilities and new monitoring stations throughout the country to strengthen disaster preparedness and ensure continuous volcanic and seismic monitoring and early warning. Agricultural and fisheries facilities are also being rehabilitated, supporting the recovery of productive activities and local food systems.

Together, these investments focus on keeping core emergency and monitoring systems operational during crises - strengthening the country's readiness to respond when future shocks occur.

Saint Vincent's recovery has impacted several critical areas, including support for household incomes and employment, restoration of essential services, and strengthened emergency preparedness.