It’s going to be a “long road to recovery” for the hurricane-struck Caribbean islands of Dominica and Barbuda, despite a successful pledging conference at UN Headquarters this week.

That’s the view of Stephen O’Malley, UN Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, who attended the conference where pledges worth more than $2 billion were made, including loans and debt relief.

Latest estimates suggest more than $5 billion will be needed to repair housing and infrastructure throughout the region, that was shattered by hurricanes Maria and Irma, in September.

Mr O’Malley told Elizabeth Philip that building back better, with greater climate resilience in mind, was essential to the recovery effort.

She began by asking for his reaction to the outcome of Tuesday’s conference.

Duration: 5’47”