Above: the International Federation of the Red Cross’ Chiran Livera assists Bahamian Red Cross members loading goods for shipment to Rum Cay and Cat Island (BIS Photo: Eric Rose)

Relief efforts by the Bahamas’ National Emergency Management Agency are in high gear and started as early as Friday, the agency reported.

NEMA’s first efforts involved sending food, water and goods to hard-hit Acklins and Crooked islands. Mayaguana received a shipment of goods last Saturday from Jamaican delivered by the Jamaican Air Force.

Since then, the agency has coordinated the shipment of goods to Rum Cay, Cat Island, Crooked Island and Acklins, along with sending utility poles to Cat Island and Acklins.

NEMA is working to deliver and set up generators across the country, along with conducting assessments and working to restore electricity.

Hurricane Irene battered parts of the Bahamas, including Acklins, which saw nearly 90 percent of its Lovely Bay settlement washed away.

–Bahamas Information Service