Children displaced by Hurricane Dean pose for the camera in a classroom at Yallahs Primary School. The children, along with adults, have been occupying the facility since August 19, when Hurricane Dean lashed the island. - Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer

With the official start of the new school year set for Monday, some 34 persons who were displaced by Hurricane Dean and are occupying the Yallahs Primary School in St. Thomas, say they are concerned that they have nowhere to go.

"I don't have any appetite cause I am not feeling justified to know that I am living down here," Deloris Bowen, who lived in Spring Pass in the parish, told The Gleaner yesterday.

The unemployed mother of 11 children, three of whom live withher, indicated that her house was damaged by Hurricane Dean and she lost all her furniture.

"I am not feeling good about this and last night I was thinking about it and my nerves started bothering me again and blood came out of my mouth," a dejected Ms. Bowen said, while shaking her head.

When The Gleaner visited the school yesterday, scores of children who have been staying there since Hurricane Dean lashed the island on August 19, were playing in the yard, some unaware of the situation that they were in.

Some of the classrooms have been transformed into bedrooms and kitchens.

"I feel bad because I don't have anywhere to go and school is going to open Monday morning," said Paulette Dennis.

"I bought books and uniform for the children and everything got destroyed in the storm," she added.

Similar views

Melvina Henry of east Albion expressed similar views.

"Mi tired a di tin food. Mi waan go home," Ms. Henry told The Gleaner yesterday.

She added: "School a go open Monday, that's why wi want to go home." Ms. Henry, who is a higgler, occupies the shelter with her three grandchildren for whom she is solely responsible.

The occupants say the Red Cross has promised to assist them.

Meanwhile, shelter manager Paulette Taylor said there were plans to relocate the displaced persons. She was, however, unable to give a date, stating that she was awaiting word from the parish manager.