Education International stands in solidarity with our colleagues, students and all communities impacted by Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas.
Hurricane Dorian has caused massive flooding in the Bahamas, affecting thousands of people in Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. The second-strongest Atlantic hurricane on record has already caused 5 confirmed fatalities, 13,000 houses feared damaged or destroyed, major power cuts and a still unknow number of people who have had to abandon their homes.
David Edwards, Education International Secretary General, stated: “We stand in solidarity with all our colleagues in the Bahamas, our affiliates – the Bahamas Educators Managerial Union and the Bahamas Union of Teachers – and all those whose lives have been impacted by this natural disaster. We are seeing the effects of climate change exacerbating already devastating natural phenomena all around the globe. Now more than ever we need solidarity to tackle these issues together.”
In July, at the 8th EI World Congress, educators from over 170 countries adopted a Resolution on disaster preparedness and response put forward by unions in North America and the Caribbean. The resolution noted the increasing number of natural disasters in the region and all over the world, the essential role of education in preparing children and their families for extreme situations and the key part schools and educators often play when disaster strikes, providing shelter and help. In addition, educators recommended prioritising the reopening of schools in the aftermath so that students have access to a support system that helps them cope with the traumatic experience.