In 2019, Hurricane Dorian, a category 5 storm with 185 mph sustained winds, made landfall on Elbow Cay, one of the many fragile barrier cays and islands that make up the Bahamas' 120-mile long Abacos chain. Dorian moved on a day later to inflict devastation on Grand Bahama Island's east end.
Much of the Abacos resembled a war zone when I visited there, three months after Dorian. But two years later, much of it still does, according to Andrea Dunne-Sosa, Americas' regional director at Project Hope, a global health and humanitarian organization working with the Ministry of Health in the Bahamas to train community health workers and assist in the disaster response.
A year ago in an address to the nation marking the one-year anniversary of Dorian, prime minister Hubert Minnis was asked how the Abacos had fared in the year since the hurricane.
"Progress has been made in the past year, but not enough," Minnis said at the time. "There is still so much to do."
Dunne-Sosa agreed. "Boats are still in yards and on land, sunken boats and cars are still in the water, mounds of debris still remain," she said, "and it will only take one strong storm for that debris to become deadly. Many people still live in temporary shelters next to their destroyed homes. Dorian damaged more than 85% of the buildings in the Abacos."
The recovery work halted in March 2020 as international nongovernmental organizations scrambled to get their staffs home before the borders closed when the world shut down due to Covid, according to Dunne-Sosa.
"Unfortunately, most did not return," she said. "Now we are in the midst of an upswing in Covid-19 cases in the Bahamas just as the economy is beginning its long recovery after the double whammies of Hurricane Dorian followed by the pandemic."
The main and largest island, Great Abaco, is the site of Marsh Harbour, the commercial hub of the Abacos and the Bahamas' third largest city. Across the water from Marsh Harbour is Elbow Cay, home to Hope Town and the signature candy-striped Elbow Reef Lighthouse, which did survive Dorian.
There has been some progress, such as the construction of docks on Elbow Cay that are more resistant to storm damage, and the reopening of several hotels, inns and restaurants as well as dive and fishing sites.
However, Covid has exasperated and greatly slowed the recovery, according to Dunne-Sosa.
"There are only two doctors for a population of 15,000 in the Abacos, and one ambulance for the entire island of Great Abaco. There is also no public transportation, so while we're training community health workers to bridge the gap and provide coverage, it's very hard to get people into health care facilities, which is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of residents in the event of emergencies," she said.
She pointed out that the people of Abaco face lifelong impacts from the compound crises of Dorian and Covid. "Heart attacks and other early deaths have increased in adults who survived the hurricane. Covid-19 has caused a lapse in routine health care. With no mental health care providers here, this will continue to manifest in people's mental and physical health for years to come."
The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins reported that the Bahamas had close to 1,500 new cases of Covid in the last two weeks of August, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel that focused on the stalled recovery of the Abacos.
"Less than 18% of Bahamian citizens and residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine. That's not nearly enough," Dunne-Sosa said.
However, Project Hope remains committed to the Abacos. The organization is training community health workers to bridge the gap with limited health care coverage in the wake of Hurricane Dorian and the current pandemic.
"Our mission is to place power in the hands of local health workers to save lives by working side by side with the local health systems to improve health and support community resilience," Dunne-Sosa said.
Go here to see the original:
Two years after Dorian, slow recovery progress in the Abacos - Travel Weekly
- Cruise bound for Bahamas rerouted to Boston because of storm - CBS Boston - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise ship originally headed for Bahamas to stop in Portland due to storm - NewsCenterMaine.com WCSH-WLBZ - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Inside Lionel Richie's Star-Studded 'Dancing on the Sand' Weekend In the Bahamas - PEOPLE - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- 7 Top-Rated Bahamas All-Inclusive Resorts You Should Book - TheTravel - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- December Cruise To Bahamas Rerouted To Canada - Jalopnik - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Alaska Airlines starts flying to the Bahamas from Seattle and Los Angeles - The Points Guy - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- You Can Now Fly Nonstop From Los Angeles to Nassau, The Bahamas - Caribbean Journal - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- THE BAHAMAS AND ALASKA AIRLINES CELEBRATE FIRST-EVER NONSTOP ROUTES CONNECTING WEST ... - Yahoo Finance - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise ship originally en route to Bahamas docks in Boston due to weather - CBS Boston - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Cruise Ship Originally En Route To Bahamas Docks In Boston Due To Weather - Patch - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Alaska Airlines Launches First-Ever Routes to Guatemala and the Bahamas - Business Traveler USA - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Kickin' It With Q: Cowgirls in the Bahamas (E.5) - Oklahoma State Athletics - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas hotel resort review - The Week - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- A Black Girl's Guide To Celebrating Junkanoo In Bahamas - Refinery29 - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- The Bahamas and Alaska Airlines Celebrate First-Ever Nonstop Routes - eTurboNews | eTN - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Live from AMERICANAFEST 2023: Brennen Leigh & Bahamas : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast - NPR - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- World Series of Poker Paradise part of growing sports scene in Bahamas - Fox News - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- TCI young men performing well at Blazer Elite Sports Academy in The Bahamas - Turks and Caicos Sun - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Royal Caribbean Closes In on New Resort in Freeport, Bahamas - Cruise Hive - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Bahamas: Spilligate'23 concert featuring Burna Boy postponed - St Vincent Times - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- Snaresbrook Manor is a Luxury Oasis in Governor's Harbour Bahamas - stupidDOPE.com - December 19th, 2023 [December 19th, 2023]
- KU falls to Bahamas in rematch, 87-81 - KUsports - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Lindsay Shiver's alleged Bahamas lover downplays plot to kill husband - New York Post - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- 5 Reasons To Visit This Lesser-Known Island In The Bahamas - Travel Off Path - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Ohio or the Bahamas? This kayaking paradise has crystal clear water - 614NOW - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Eric Gordon to reportedly represent Team Bahamas - Eurohoops - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Sebastian Walcott Is the Rangers'and the Bahamas'Future - D Magazine - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- These Are The 10 Best Things To Do On Grand Bahama Island - TheTravel - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN AUGUST 2023 - PR Newswire - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Deandre Ayton, Kai Jones to rep The Bahamas at Olympic qualifiers ... - Loop News Caribbean - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- Reliving the Legend: Michael Jordan's Bahamas Pick-Up Trash-Talk ... - Landon Buford - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- For Mayor Adams, Any Day Has the Makings of Flag Day - The New York Times - August 8th, 2023 [August 8th, 2023]
- MAKING HISTORY: 80-member team named for the CARIFTA Games - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Bahamas geography, maps, climate, environment and terrain from Bahamas ... - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas | Culture, Facts & Travel | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas government structure and political parties. - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Is Bahamas a poor country? | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas Population and Demographics from Bahamas | - CountryReports - March 24th, 2023 [March 24th, 2023]
- Bahamas interception of sea-borne Cuban migrants jumps in 2022 - January 17th, 2023 [January 17th, 2023]
- Bahamas national football team - Wikipedia - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- LeBron James Sipped Champagne and Vodka All Night Alongside Katy Perry in Crazy Bahamas Party in 2010 - EssentiallySports - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Hidden Worlds and The Islands of The Bahamas Bringing Awareness to Ocean Conservation - South Florida Caribbean News - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- 'Smoking a big spliff in the Bahamas': Nick's 10-year plan, and why his 'secret weapon' has him high on life - The Roar - December 23rd, 2022 [December 23rd, 2022]
- SBF's parents visited Bahamas prison where he's in custody - Business Insider - December 18th, 2022 [December 18th, 2022]
- Alex Rodriguez and Jaclyn Cordeiro share Instagram video of their stunning private vacation in the Northeastern Bahamas - Sportskeeda - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- @realGeorgeHotz More Than Just a Polycule in the Bahamas, That's for Sure! - Latest Tweet by Elon Musk - LatestLY - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Bahamas' Attorney General Defends Country's Regulatory Regime Amid FTX 'Debacle' - CoinDesk - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- Dayton regroups with two home games this week after 0-3 finish in Bahamas - Dayton Daily News - November 30th, 2022 [November 30th, 2022]
- The Bahamas' Club Med Columbus Set To Reopen This Month - TravelPulse - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- UH, U of the Bahamas partner in island sustainability, disaster risk reduction | University of Hawaii System News - University of Hawaii - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Government agencies collaborating to restore East Grand Bahama - Magnetic Media - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- The Bahamas Welcomes Everyone This Winter - Vax-Before-Travel - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Call for Entries : Development of a Private Island in The Bahamas - ArchDaily - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- VALOR OF THE VANQUISHED: PM tours Lucayans exhibit - EyeWitness News - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Henfield: Immigration's shanty town efforts should be sustained - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Rent-to-own housing initiative to provide 50 homes in pilot phase - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- 'Come out and support' the Fight for the Cure - Bahamas Tribune - October 15th, 2022 [October 15th, 2022]
- Turks and Caicos thanks for Bahamas police link - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Trinidad and Tobago beach soccer teams to play in Bahamas Cup - TT Newsday - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- 'Move the needle': IMF puts Bahamas growth back to 8% - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Why did 'Renovation Island' stars Bryan and Sarah Baeumler not sell their Bahamas resort? - MEAWW - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- IMMIGRATION TO SEND IN OFFICERS: The Farm reported to have quadrupled in size since Dorian - Bahamas Tribune - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- CBS PROstore goes hands-on with fall workshop - EyeWitness News - October 13th, 2022 [October 13th, 2022]
- Bahamas Population 2022 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs) - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- WHAT'S NEW IN THE BAHAMAS IN OCTOBER 2022 - PR Newswire - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- These Twin Beachfront Bahamas Mansions Just Hit the Market for $30 Million Each - Robb Report - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Unraveling the Links Between the Bahamas' Junkanoo Festival and Folk Hero John Canoe | History - Smithsonian Magazine - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The Bahamas PM says the country is in a much better place than 12 months ago, reviewing one year in office - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Bahamas Police first to answer call for help, as TCI grapples with deadly gang turf war - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- MSC Cruises Seashore to Homeport at Port Canaveral for 2023 Winter Season, Will Sail to Bahamas, Western Caribbean - SpaceCoastDaily.com - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- Regressive recession looming, forces UN to issue Cease and Desist message to big countries - Magnetic Media - October 8th, 2022 [October 8th, 2022]
- The best 8 places to visit in the Bahamas - Lonely Planet Travel News - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Take 5: What will 399000 buy in the Bahamas, Greece, France, Romania and Carlow? - The Irish Times - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND ANNOUNCES PARTY LIKE A ROYAL NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION AND THE CHAINSMOKERS PERFORMING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY - PR Newswire - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Statement to Update on the Sale of the Grand Lucayan - Magnetic Media - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Another Carnival Cruise Canceled Due to Hurricane Ian - Cruise Hive - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Coup's Notebook Vol. 26: The Toughest Job At Training Camp, Checking In On Nikola Jovi, The Next Developmental Project And Spoelstra In The Lab -... - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Glass Window Bridge envisioned as a symbol of resilience and sustainability says Works and Utilities Minister - Magnetic Media - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- BUT president: Ensure there are sufficient teachers in Family Islands - Bahamas Tribune - October 2nd, 2022 [October 2nd, 2022]
- Pitch In For Youth Baseball makes inaugural visit to The Bahamas - Bahamas Tribune - September 29th, 2022 [September 29th, 2022]