UN agencies said on Tuesday that they had emergency medical and food aid ready to help the people of the Bahamas after the devastating passage of hurricane Dorian through the island chain.
They estimate that at least 61,000 people will need food aid after the monster storm hit the islands, officials told reporters in Geneva, the South African-based news letter The Citizen reports.
The islands’ water system is damaged and fresh water will be a priority, the UN Office for coordination of humanitarian affairs reported.
UN experts are waiting for government clearance before assessing the situation on the ground, said OCHA spokesperson Jens Laerke.
The OCHA statement said the authorities on Abaco island were talking of “catastrophic damage”, while emergency officials on Grand Bahama were reporting massive flooding there.
Herve Verhoosel for the World Food Program said their initial estimate suggested that 47,000 people would need food aid on Grand Bahama and another 14,000 on Abaco.
Emergency medical teams were also standing by to intervene, said Fadela Chaib, spokesperson for the World Health Organization.
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