Over US$3m needed to aid Bahamas

The Bahamas is grappling with the devastation caused by category five hurricane Dorian, which struck last Sunday.

It stalled over the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama Island for two days, leaving five dead, with the numbers expected to increase in the coming days.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said over US$3 million is needed in aid.

The areas of focus include shelter, livelihoods and basic needs, health, water, sanitation and hygiene promotion, protection gender and inclusion, migration, disaster risk reduction and national society strengthening.

“The planned response reflects the current situation and information available at this time, and it will be adjusted based on further developments and more detailed assessments,” the IFRC said.

Several organisations have already mobilised and are now working in the Bahamas.

The TT Red Cross Society also corrected a clerical error in the bank account number for its Bahamas Emergency Appeal yesterday.

The account at Republic Bank is 180-482-517-101.

Communications officer Kevin Garcia urged that financial donations should be sent to the Red Cross as it was already on the ground in the Bahamas and could readily move in relief supplies from the US.

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has sent in a disaster assistance response team. Its website said plastic sheeting, hygiene kits, water buckets, and chainsaws
are among the items used in the relief efforts.

A press release on the UK government's website said, "A British Royal Navy auxiliary aid ship, fully equipped, capable of carrying amphibious vehicles and includes a helicopter for rescue and surveying operations was sent as part of its relief mission."

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), and dozens of NGOs and government entities, including, in the Bahamas, Direct Relief, have already
operationalised
emergency resources.

Locally, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM) has been liaising with CDEMA
to find out what is needed.

The Prime Minister is appealing to citizens to extend aid where necessary. Monetary donations can be made to the Bahamas Disaster Relief Fund Account through RBC Royal Bank, or FCB (Account number is: 261-555-9).

Further information on how to make donations can be found on ODPM’s Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/ODPMTT/ or its Customer Call Centre at 511/ TEMA’s hotline 211.

Enquiries can be e-mailed to publicinfo.odpm@gmail.com