Miami

Medical Students Evacuated From Island Nation Ravaged by Maria

This weekend, two charter flights arranged by Ross University School of Medicine flew in nearly two hundred evacuees from the devastated island of Dominica.

For more than one thousand medical school students at the school, the reality exists that their Caribbean homes are destroyed with some losing almost all of their belongings.

“Everything was destroyed, torn to shreds,” said the school’s student government vice president, Nadya Khan. “There were also fridges in the living room, fridges that were picked up by the wind and thrown into the living room, there's walls that got ripped off…I'm just glad I didn't stay home.”

“There's nowhere to clean, there's no running water, there's no clean water. You can't step across the street because if you fall in it you’re going to get washed away,” said Emily Lafferman, a first year student at the school.

The university has offices based in the United State and they are working to evacuate students to neighboring islands and offering them charter flights back to the states - but it's a slow and tactful process as thousands of families and friends are waiting for the moment they can reunite.

The government of Dominica has issued a curfew to prevent looting, but students say they are providing protection for themselves

“We were able to negotiate contracts with the local supermarkets and get supplies all the way into school so looters wouldn't raid the supermarket and a lot of students have stepped up and helped,” Khan said. “Without them, none of this would've been possible.”

Ross University is also providing charter boats for students to St. Lucia. On the ground in St. Lucia is Jesus Medina, a medical student at the International American University College of Medicine. He's using his organization, the International Federation of Medical Students Association, to help coordinate RUSM students with hotel and flight information.

Medina is a Miami native and said he is committed to helping families during this crucially difficult time post Hurricane Maria.

"Our main mission as future physicians is to serve and care for the ones in need. In this case, we have the opportunity to support the humanitarian effects to bring comfort to all evacuees from Dominica and keep parents informed about the wellness and safety of their loved one," said Medina.

Contact Us