More than 300 Haitian nationals living in one of Abaco's six slums, affected by Hurricane Dorian, are missing, according to an interim assessment of officials of the newly formed United Haitian Community Front, a Haitian-backed organization League of Pastors and Rights Bahamas whose Committee is composed of religious leaders and human rights organizations from the local Haitian community.

"We have formed a group called 'Abaco Relief', families are sending us their family names and photos we are sending to the NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency), so far 309 people are considered missing and we continue always to receive names of people for whom have no more news since the passage of the hurricane.

The preliminary assessment report of the Haitian population who resided in 6 slums of Abaco, including Sand Banks, Farm Road, L and H at Treasure Cay, The Mudd, Pigeon Peas and Elbow Cay published by "Abaco Shantytown" in December 2018, indicated that 3,041 nationals of Haitian origin resided in these sites. "The Mudd" was the most populated slum with 51.4% of the population, followed by Pigeon Peas 19%. These two shantytowns in Marsh Harbor have been completely shaved from the map by Hurricane Dorian Category 5

Many Haitians in the Bahamas expressed concern about discrimination against their compatriots in the relief process on social media, however, Pastor Edward St. Fleur said, "Personally, I have not seen that in the places I visited (social services and hospitals) the reception of Haitians was very cordial and I must congratulate the staff of these institutions, they do a fantastic job."

SL/ HaitiLibre