Santo Domingo.- The recovery of plantain, banana and coffee plantations in Barahona and Bahoruco province starts today Monday, with the distribution of seeds for short cycle and vegetable crops and the start of repairs of roads and minor infrastructure throughout the Southwest.

President Danilo Medina yesterday instructed all agencies to cooperate with the National Emergency Committee (CNE) all to restore traffic in the south, where Hurricane Sandy caused most of the damages.

"The government reacted quickly; Government agencies have acted with alacrity to them, because people are first of all," said the Presidency’s Press Director Roberto Rodriguez.

Cooked food

Rodriguez said the government’s low cost kitchens have provided 67,000 cooked meals through 21 mobile units throughout the country.

"Also distributed were 10,300 combo rations with 12 products. There are new mobile cafeterias in the south, eight in Santo Domingo and four in Cibao (north)."

Armed Forces

A military helicopter flew to sectors of the town of Guayabal several times yesterday to shuttle people with ailments untreatable at the local hospital, to the Taiwan medical center at the city of Azua.

Medina in affected areas

On Saturday Medina toured several areas of Azua and Peravia provinces, which were the hardest hit by flooding from the storm’s rains.

He ordered the purchase of mattresses, bedding and other home furnishings in the local market and the distribution of 7,000 tickets worth five hundred pesos to as many families to buy food until the Social Plan’s aid arrives by land.