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Industry takes action to help Bahamas hurricane recovery
Cruise lines are rallying round to help the Bahamas following the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian.
The death toll has climbed to 30 and is expected to be even higher.
Prime Minister Hubert Minnis described the worst areas as being ‘decimated’.
Dorian battered the Abaco Islands and Grand Bahama, and with Grand Bahama’s sole airport out of action, getting supplies to affected areas is problematic.
Minnis said it is ‘one of the greatest national crises in our country’s history’.
The International Red Cross estimated nearly half of all homes on Grand Bahama and the Abacos have suffered major damage or were completely destroyed.
Up to 60,000 people will need immediate food aid, clean water and shelter, the UN said.
Who is doing what?
Carnival Cruise Line has joined with the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation to pledge $2 million in funding and ‘in-kind’ support.
Royal Caribbean has also pledged more than $1 million to support relief efforts.
MSC is sending a senior delegation from the cruise line, along with managers from its philanthropic arm, the MSC Foundation, to meet with officials and key relief organisations to identify what help is needed most urgently.
Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line’s Grand Celebration has cancelled a sailing and is instead taking food, water and other supplies and volunteers from Palm Beach to Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.
It will also be taking Bahamian residents who were stranded in South Florida, free of charge.
It is scheduled to return to the Port of Palm Beach on Saturday with Bahamian residents who wish to evacuate to the US and have proper documentation.
How you can help?
A Go Fund Me appeal has been set up by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation. Click here to donate.
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Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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