GONAIVES, Haiti (ABP) — Even as the attention of Americans turns to the disaster caused by Hurricane Ike in their own country, Baptist agencies are responding to massive devastation across the Caribbean islands, battered by three successive tropical cyclones since Aug. 26.
Currently, most are sending monetary donations to hard-hit islands devastated by flooding. Baptist World Aid, the relief and development arm of the Baptist World Alliance, has designated an initial $10,000.
American Baptist International Ministries, the overseas missionary arm of the American Baptist Churches USA has provided almost $15,000 in emergency grants to its Caribbean partners. The agency has sent a $3,000 grant to Jamaica, $3,500 to the Dominican Republic and $5,000 to Haiti. At least another $3,000 in emergency aid is planned for the region.
According to BWA reports, hurricane-caused damage is estimated at $20 billion in the area.
Ike was particularly destructive in Cuba, where it made two landfalls as a strong hurricane. “The destruction of houses is really terrible, some houses have fallen, and a great quantity has lost roofs totally or partially,” Manuel Delgado, vice president of the Fraternity of Baptist Churches in Cuba, told BWA. Paso Real de San Diego in the Cuban province of Pinar del Rio was badly damaged, he said.
Caribbean nations weathered Hurricane Gustav Aug. 26, Hurricane Hanna Sept. 1 and Hurricane Ike Sept. 5.
Gustav affected Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, and the United States. Hanna struck Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States. Hurricane Ike caused further damage in Cuba, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Turks and Caicos. All told, the three storms have caused hundreds of deaths and left tens of thousands homeless.
According to news reports, Gustav killed at least 94 people in the Caribbean, with Hanna killing at least 26 in Haiti. At least four died in Cuba as a result of Ike.
Haiti has been among the hardest hit, suffering four storms within three weeks, with more than 550 reported dead — many due to flooding and landslides caused by heavy rains. News sources indicate 80 percent of homes in the Turks and Caicos Islands have been destroyed.
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