The Bahamian officials have defended their response to Hurricane Dorian which killed at least 43 people. Residents on the Abaco Islands have accused the government of failing to provide assistance with the hurricane.
Picture credit: Sky News
Officials have denied there has been any cover up of the number of people who have died, many people are still missing from the Island. Around 70,000 people are in need of food and shelter.
Hurricane Dorian destroyed the Island with its category five storm. The worst affected area is the Abaco Islands, residents have been sent to the capital, Nassau, where they may have to use tents or containers to house the victims.
In the Abacos, 90% of infrastructure is damaged or destroyed. Search and Rescue teams are currently searching through the rubble while residents are complaining that they took a long time to arrive.
Many people on the island have lost everything and many have lost friends and family. Many residents are refusing to say their loved ones are dead. A small group of survivors are waiting to go to another island. Many have already been evacuated by passenger planes, cruise liners and government boats and ships.
The government of the Bahamas have sent 900 police and military personnels to the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama which were worst affected.
The UN’s World Food Programme was sending food and supplies, and other offers of international help included:
- From USAID, which said it would allocate $2.8m (£2.3m) in help, as well as emergency supplies for 44,000 people
- The American Red Cross saying it had committed $2.8m
- The UK Royal Navy and private organisations, which were helping evacuate residents to Nassau
