Puerto Rican Residents Say Aid Is Not Arriving Fast Enough

Edited by Ed Newman
2017-09-27 14:05:02

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San Juan, September 27 (RHC)-- Almost the entire island of Puerto Rico remains without access to electrical power, clean water, food and fuel, one week after Hurricane Maria devastated the U.S. territory.

Many residents are criticizing the federal government and say aid has not been arriving fast enough. Under increasing criticism, U.S. President Donald Trump held a press conference Tuesday in which he congratulated himself on his response to Puerto Rico’s disaster, repeating nearly a dozen times that he was doing a "great," "amazing," "tremendous" and "incredible" job. Trump also says he will visit Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands next Tuesday.

The Trump administration has also denied a request from several members of Congress to waive shipping restrictions to help get gasoline and other supplies to Puerto Rico faster. The decision came even though the Department of Homeland Security waived what is called the Jones Act twice in the last month following Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, which hit the mainland United States.

Maria was the most powerful hurricane to strike the island in nearly a century. It destroyed the island’s entire electrical grid and caused severe flooding and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.

Flights in and out of Puerto Rico are still severely restricted, and hospitals are struggling to provide care, with limited access to electricity and dwindling supplies.



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