As many as 150 new patients each day are continuing to arrive at our Emergency Field Hospital in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian that badly damaged or destroyed many of the Caribbean nation’s other medical facilities.
The fully functional 40-bed hospital—with an operating room, obstetrics ward and delivery room—has treated more than 5,200 patients since opening Sept. 10.
We have deployed more than 160 medical and non-medical staff to serve in the Bahamas. That includes 37 Canadians so far, including 21 currently in the field.
Meanwhile, our DC-8 jet continues to transport emergency relief supplies to the Bahamas. The plane has made 18 trips so far—transporting more than 320 metric tonnes of supplies including tarps, generators, solar lights, hygiene kits, blankets, and water filters. But the need for more assistance remains enormous, and urgent. Please help.
The people of the Bahamas are in desperate straits after the islands were hit by Dorian, a Category 5 hurricane packing sustained winds of 300 kph with gusts up to 360 kph.
Hurricane Dorian Media Resources
“Please join me in praying for everyone affected by this hurricane, and for our teams as we respond in Jesus’ Name.”
—Franklin Graham
Dorian made multiple landfalls in the Bahamas on Sept. 1. Then the storm stalled over the islands for almost two days, pounding the hardest hit areas, in particular Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. Thousands of houses were severely damaged or destroyed—70,000 people are reported homeless. At least 65 people were killed, and more than 340 are still missing.
Hurricane Dorian passed over the province of Nova Scotia on Sept. 8 leaving significant wind and storm surge damage in its wake. Across the province and region communities experienced power outages, downed trees down and localized flooding.
With your support, Samaritan’s Purse Canada has sent disaster relief equipment, including a Disaster Relief Unit to Atlantic Canada to help people whose homes are damaged or destroyed by the storm.
Samaritan’s Purse is looking for Christian medical professionals who would be interested in serving with us in a future response. Specifically:
Samaritan's Purse responds to the urgent needs of families devastated by the wind, rain, and storm surge of catastrophic hurricanes. Whether internationally or here in Canada, we bring emergency relief and practical help in the Name of Jesus Christ to hurting people.