“The need is very immediate and is great. Everything is needed in those countries. Children have nothing adults have nothing. In San Andres, Providence and the other Island they need bldg materials and kind of tools for bldg. Please give whatever you can.”
McKeeva Bush, House Speaker
(CMR) The people of San Andres, Providencia and Santa Catalina have been devastated by Hurricane Iota earlier this week. Thousands of people have been left without homes or water after Iota made landfall as a category five hurricane on Monday.
For the first day after the storm, the 6,000 inhabitants of Providencia had no electricity and no means of communicating with the outside world. There was a single satellite phone on the island that was being shared by multiple persons to reach the outside world and alert family members to their condition.
One person had died and 98% of the island infrastructure has been destroyed. This is the worst storm to hit Colombia and the first category 5 storm. The hospital is said to be completely destroyed.
The national government has declared the island a disaster area with at least two persons confirmed dead, six injured and another three missing. The Red Cross has set up a line to assist persons in contacting family. Only humanitarian flights are allowed in at this time.
In neighboring San Andres, 60% of the population was left without electricity with the southern part of the island receiving the brunt of the storm. Their airport reopened on Wednesday for commercial flights.
Photos emerged of the concrete roads being ripped up by massive waves. Scientists have shared the people have never been prepared despite receiving a warning of a storm of this magnitude some 15 years ago.
Persons in Cayman are starting to organize efforts to get people the help that they need. West Bay representative McKeeva Bush has stepped up to assist the San Andres community here spread the word about the level of devastation sharing on his Facebook page the call for assistance was urgent. He also indicated that a group organizing efforts for Nicaragua would be meeting at his West Bay office.
A Colombian military aircraft is expected to arrive in the near future to collect donated supplies as well as allow citizens to return home to assist with the rebuilding process.
There is also a public meeting scheduled for Friday evening at the Airport Park at 7:00 p.m. There are plans for a plane to leave to San Andres to take donated items back as well. Items most in need include non-perishable foods, clothing, baby supplies, antiseptic items, toiletries, feminine products.
Items can be dropped off at 142B Eastern Ave, at the end of the building or All Nations United Pentecostal church 23A Woodlake Dr. ( swamp)
For more information, please contact:
Rita 916-2013
Amanda 516-3561
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