Bahamas Red Cross: We Stand By Ready To Assist

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – As the southern islands begin to recover from Hurricane Melissa’s devastating impact, the Bahamas Red Cross is stepping in to deliver relief supplies and support for affected residents.

With the storm now moving away from The Bahamas, focus has shifted from survival to recovery, and the Red Cross says help is already on the way.

Red Cross President Edison Sumner confirmed that pallets of relief supplies are packed and ready to ship to the hardest-hit islands.

“We have some supplies that are ready to go,” Sumner said. “We’ve already packed a couple of pallets to send to the islands, as soon as we decide where we’re sending them and the mode of transportation.”

One Red Cross representative joined Prime Minister Philip Davis and his assessment team on today’s visit to the southern islands to help determine the extent of the damage and prioritize the most urgent needs.

In addition to assisting residents on the ground, the Red Cross has also been supporting the more than 1,400 evacuees who were flown to New Providence before the storm.

“Our volunteers were in the shelters,” Sumner explained. “We provided beddings, clothes, blankets, hygiene items, and personal care kits, even games for children to keep them occupied.”

Director General Alicia Pinder says the Red Cross had been stockpiling food and water since the start of hurricane season, allowing them to act quickly once Melissa hit.

“What’s important for us is being able to provide those small items, food, water, if supplies are interrupted because of the storm,” Pinder said. “For bigger items, we identify funding sources as soon as possible and apply right away.”

Pinder encouraged the public to continue donating to ongoing relief efforts.

“If you want to make physical donations, like canned goods, you can bring them directly to the National Society,” she said. “We also have a Royal Bank account at the John F. Kennedy branch, number 2894228, where funds can be sent.”

As cleanup and rebuilding begin across the southern Bahamas, Red Cross officials say they’ll continue to work alongside government and international partners to ensure no community is left behind.