4,000 in Abaco are in ‘dire need’ of food

As of Tuesday, April 14, 2020

By RASHAD ROLLE

Tribune Senior Reporter

rrolle@tribunemedia.net

FOUR thousand people in Abaco are in “dire need” of food after COVID-19 disrupted their food chain supply, says the cofounder of Idea Relief, a Bahamian non-profit organisation filling the void left when the contagious coronavirus prompted international NGOs to leave the island.

“COVID-19 has drastically changed the situation faced by the residents of Abaco,” Scott Aranha wrote in a recent letter, “forcing the departure of several non-profits, causing a shortage of food and supplies for those who are still unable to support themselves and causing the sense of insecurity to return.”

Among the organisations that left Abaco is World Central Kitchen which, up to the beginning of this month, was supplying food to the island’s food distribution centres.

“The call and information we got was that there was no food in the food distribution centres,” Mr Aranha said. “A lot of the people don’t have any money and food banks were empty because of the departure of US non-profits.”

The assessment of how many people in Abaco are in desperate need of food was done by UNICEF and Open World Relief, according to Mr Aranaha.

“The assessment was made off of communities and the numbers World Central Kitchen was feeding up to its last 10 days. Many were not only being fed but employed for reconstruction but currently reconstruction has been halted because of the lockdown. We are now submitting food through (a) pre-existing network of distribution centres before COVID-19 developed.”

Initially, Idea Relief, with the benefit of funding, sought to provide therapy fishing services to residents in Abaco hard hit Category Five Hurricane Dorian last year.

“This would involve taking people out to sea who went through traumatic experiences and having a counsellor on board,” Mr Aranha said. “It was a proposal that was brought to us by two sponsors and we thought it was a suitable way to give people a little bit of fun with what they used to do in their normal lives but can’t do anymore.”

However, COVID-19 got in the way of the group’s plans and it has since shifted its focus.

About five days after World Central Kitchen left the country, the group filled the gap, with Mr Aranaha saying it bought $20,000 worth of food from Maxwells and Abaco Grocery stores which were then delivered to distribution centres managed by volunteers.

“We have delivered through the distribution centres about $20,000 worth of food as far south as Sandy Point and as north as Fox Town,” he said.

The group is now working with store owners to assess food security issues, he added.

A shipment of food from the United States is expected to arrive on Thursday. “We are looking at many different avenues of sourcing food,” Mr Aranha said. “If local businesses can sustain our demand, we purchase through them to keep money flowing in Abaco.”

Now the organisation is making an appeal for funds, which can be donated through PayPal. “We need everyone to lend a hand,” Mr Aranha said. “Make sure people who have already been through a major disaster in the last six months are helped out in the second.”

For more information or to donate visit www.idearelief.org/

DDK 4 years ago

I wonder who and where are these people that are in dire need of food??

ThisIsOurs 4 years ago

Well there are only a few options, Bahamians devastated by Dorisn. Legal foreigners devastated by Dorian Illegal foreigners devastated by Dorian. I can't think of a reason to let anyone in any of the groupings starve.

Watching internstional news footage I always wondered why there'd be thousands of people in the middle of nowhere, caught between 2 conflicting middle East or African nations and the headline would state that they were in danger of starving. How could they starve when the city was right there?

There's no good reason to deny people food, especially if they can't go anywhere.

TalRussell 4 years ago

For daring asks your government tough questions in this colony, they will send uniformed people to come to get you...regardless, somebody has to take risks to keep on asking them! For damn sure they're not being asked by the Queen's loyal opposition's four House members!
This dire news of hunger in the Abaco's is goin comes as an out da blue total shock to the *first among equals two high-powered in cabinet Abaco House MP's?
Comrade .Scott Aranha- be's warned that the last time someone spoke out to ask questions concerning stuff going on in and about the Abaco's - a quick telephone call was made to the Chief Colony's Constabulary to order the complainer to report for an audience before Royal Constabulary's investigation.division. Just can't make this shi# up. Just, can't.** Nod once for yeah, twice for no?

Eli 4 years ago

There are many people on Abaco and it’s cays who are still struggling after Hurricane Dorian. I sincerely hope they are among the 4000 and only them! The greedy tend to rush out and get things at the expense of the needy! World Central Kitchen was a godsend following Dorian, but it should be investigated as to where and why they are still supplying food. What happens to it after it is unloaded from the Legacy and there is no public distribution? Hmmmm? After being blessed with so much help following Dorian, it would be a poor reflection on Abaco and the country to take advantage of those who came quickly to our rescue.

stillwaters 4 years ago

After the Haitians there were found by Immigration, what happened to them? No news about that.....is anybody in Abaco able to tell us? Were all these people.....4000...still being fed by foreign aid? Is that why they can't find food for themselves? So much information missing from this story.

H 4 years ago

Some of the Dorian victims donated goods were hoarded and not given to Abaco and Grand Bahama. People are STILL homeless or living in broken houses or tents with no water or power and Govt admits they have remaining dorian donated supplies in case Nassau people need it. SHAME!

https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/04...">https://thenassauguardian.com/2020/04...

avidreader 4 years ago

Shame indeed that the power company (BPL) is moving so slowly that many residents could be forgiven for thinking that there exists a plan to frustrate them to the point of abandoning any plans they might have to resume occupancy of their properties. I have seen small silver tents in private yards and larger brown and white tents around a church. If BPL has no plans to reconnect residential premises in Marsh Harbour it would be appreciated if they could come right out and say so instead of keeping the customers in suspense.

Bahamianbychoice 4 years ago

The main fishing hub for the Bahamas is out of Moore’s Island in Abaco. The boat owners have been working very hard to get the Abaco fishermen back and working after the hurricane. Exporting of seafood now is the only industry that generates US dollars which the country needs to pay its bills. The present Minister of Agriculture has been nothing but a hindrance to the industry as a whole. I saw him on the news talking about food security initiatives..first he is disingenuous and late to the game..now here we are. Maybe he should humble himself and consult the Bahamian boat owners/fishermen and work to come up with plans ...short and long term. This not a time for politics..we all need to pull together!!

DDK 4 years ago

Bahamianbychoice, most of the Government Ministries, Corporations and Agencies are nothing but a hindrance to Bahamians and Bahamian business. In fact these entities and their personnel seem to thrive on making life difficult for Bahamians, most of whom have no choice in so being!

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