By Nelson A. King
With initial assessments indicating
that some 76,000 people in the
parts of the Bahamas worst-affected
by Hurricane Dorian need urgent
support, the United Nations’ World
Food Program (WFP) is arranging
for eight tons of ready-to-eat meals
to be provided – part of a US$5.4 million
overall funding package.
In a statement released in Geneva,
Switzerland on Thursday, WFP
spokesperson Hervé Verhoosel said
that the UN agency has a team on
the ground, assessing the full extent
of the damage and identifying those
in greatest need.
According to reports, as of Thursday
afternoon local time, 23 deaths
have been confirmed, and officials
fear that the total will rise considerably
as the search and rescue effort
continues.
Verhoosel said that WFP is working
closely with the Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency
(CDEMA), the Government of the
Bahamas and partners to “identify
the most urgent needs and provide
support in the vital areas of food, telecommunications
and logistics”.
An airlift is being organized, from
the UN hub in Panama, of storage
units, generators, and offices for two
logistics hubs to be established on
the main islands, said Verhoosel,
adding that WFP is also providing
satellite equipment to ensure connectivity
for emergency responders
across the affected island group.
The spokesperson noted that the
assessment teams carried out an initial
aerial reconnaissance mission to
the affected islands on Wednesday,
with the aim of getting teams to the
hardest-hit areas as soon as possible.
He added that the agency is making
US$5.4 million available, as part
of a three-month Limited Emergency
Operation (LEO), “because of the
severity of the situation.:
Verhoosel said the operation will
provide support to 39,000 people.
He said, in a first phase, WFP
will focus on procuring and distributing
up to 85 tons of ready-to-eat
meals for the most affected communities.
The WFP briefing came a day
after the UN’s humanitarian chief,
Mark Lowcock, who travelled to
the Bahamas on Wednesday,
announced that he would release
US$1 million dollars from the UN’s
Central Emergency Response Fund
(CERF) to kick-start critical relief
efforts for the response to Hurricane
Dorian, which is being led by
the Bahamas Government.
Caribbean Life, September 13-19 2019 3
NYS Assembly Haitian Caucus (from left to right): Assemblymembers Kimberly Jean-Pierre, Michaelle Solages,
Clyde Vanel, Rodneyse Bichotte and Mathylde Frontus. Offi ce of Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte
NYS Assembly Haitian Caucus
work to help Dorian’s victims
By Nelson A. King
The New York State Assembly Haitian
Caucus said on Monday that Speaker
Carl Heastie will join them in assisting
in relief efforts for those impacted by
Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, as
well as those devastated by the Category
5 hurricane in the eastern coast of the
United States.
“The Assembly Majority is committed
to supporting those affected areas,” said
Brooklyn Assembly Member Rodneyse
Bichotte, a member of the Assembly
Haitian Caucus that also comprises her
colleagues, Michaelle Solages, Kimberly
Jean-Pierre, Clyde Vanel, and Mathylde
Frontus.
“The Assembly Majority will continue
to work closely with the Consulate General
of the Bahamas and the Bahamian
American Association to address strategies
needed to assist those communities
impacted,” added Bichotte, who represents
the 42nd Assembly District in
Brooklyn. “Additionally, many Assembly
Majority members’ offices will host relief
drives across New York to help Bahamians
affected by Hurricane Dorian.”
The Assembly Haitian Caucus said
the road to recovery will be “difficult for
all who have been affected by this devastating
storm as Dorian has decimated
these areas, particularly the islands of
Grand Bahama and Abaco – a portion of
the island heavily populated by Haitian
immigrants.”
“Immediate assistance is greatly needed
during this time, as thousands are
without clean drinking water, food, shelter
and dry clothing,” the statement said.
“This disaster hit close to home for
us all,” said Bichotte, the first Haitian
American from New York City to be
elected to the State Assembly. “A community
known as the ‘Mudd’ located
on the island of Abaco was built over
decades by thousands of Haitian immigrants
in search of a better life.
“The residential environment has
now been completely reduced to rumble
by the storm, where many of its
residents remain unaccounted for,” she
added. “We play a vital role for this
group of people – our voices strongly
resonate for those who have been
silenced.”
Solages said “suffering through natural
disasters and dealing with the aftermath
has become the norm for the
Caribbean islands.”
“Here in New York, we stand with our
Caribbean brothers and sisters, and are
committed and have the resources to
help after the devastation to the Bahamas
from Hurricane Dorian,” she said.
Jean-Pierre said that, in the coming
days and weeks, the Assembly Haitian
Caucus “will continue to collect food,
water and hygiene kits for the families
of Bahamas.
“Devastation like this is not new to
the Caribbean,” she said. “However,
for many, the difficulty lies in the road
ahead. We of the Haitian Caucus stand
with all affected and will continue to
show our support.”
Vanel said the most urgent need
at the moment is for food and clean
water.
“All help is welcomed, as we come
together in solidarity to support an
island in great need,” he said. “We are
not looking at any one individual but
rather a country left in destitution. It
is estimated that over 70,000 people on
the island are in need of sustenance.”
Frontus said that “as extreme weather
continues to have disastrous effects
throughout the world, it has become
more and more important to band
together to help those most affected.
“I am proud that we are taking action
to support our Bahamian neighbors
by partnering with Speaker Heastie to
provide relief to the areas hit hardest by
this latest storm,” she said.
Heastie said he was “grateful and
proud that the Assembly Majority never
hesitates to help those in need, and we
are confident in the resiliency of our
brothers and sisters in the Caribbean.
“The people of the Bahamas will
undoubtedly face many challenges
ahead, but New Yorkers are always ready
to lend a helping hand,” he said.
Bichotte said her Brooklyn office is
collecting donations of canned goods
and bottled water during the month of
September: Monday - Friday 9:30 a.m.
to 5 p.m.; 1312 Flatbush Ave. (between
Foster Avenue & East 26th Street).
Emergency
food relief
for Bahamas