Participants at the Hurricane Dorian Pledging Conference. (Photo Credit: BIS/Derek Smith)

NASSAU, The Bahamas, WednesdayJanuary 15, 2020 Governments, non-governmentalorganizations (NGOs), multilateral institutions, companies andindividuals pledged US$1.5 billion in recovery funding and in-kind services atthe Hurricane Dorian Private Sector Pledging Conference just under half theestimated losses and damage the Category 5 hurricane caused when it made landfallin the archipelago four months ago.

More than300 local and international delegates attended the conference at Baha Mar on Monday,and pledges included: initiatives in homebuilding and repair; educationalassistance; renewable energy partnerships; relief aid; grants; directassistance to storm victims; parks restoration; loans and financing.

Thesepledges are an important step in the ongoing reconstruction and rebuilding ofareas affected by Hurricane Dorian, so that we may rebuild stronger and withmore resilience, said Prime Minister Dr Hubert Minnis.

We are grateful to domestic and international partners, including foreign governments. We look forward to other possible contributions to help in our recovery efforts.

As afollow up to the conference, the UnitedNations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government will issue a detailedaccount of the commitments made disaggregated by sectors and stakeholders.

HurricaneDorian hit Abaco and Grand Bahama in September 2019. With maximum sustainedwinds of 185 miles per hour, and gusts of 220 miles per hour, Dorian was thestrongest storm to hit The Bahamas. It was also the second strongest storm bywind speed recorded in the Atlantic.

Therehave been 70 confirmed deaths as a result of Hurricane Dorian.

We thankthe donors who pledged at Mondays conference for their support of therestoration of Abaco and Grand Bahama, said Katherine Forbes-Smith, ManagingDirector of the Bahamas Disaster Reconstruction Authority.

The Authority, as the agency charged with spearheading the reconstruction effort, will work with these local and international partners to ensure that Abaco and Grand Bahama are rebuilt better and stronger. Through these partnerships and assistance we also hope to boost both economies and build back with new, greener technology and resiliency.

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Just Under Half the Value of Hurricane Dorian Losses and Damage in The Bahamas is Pledged for Recovery Efforts - Caribbean360.com