Families in need or those affected by a spate of recent shootings are being offered help over the holidays.

Government agencies are on hand to ease the burden of the bereaved, offering emergency aid, counselling and food baskets, according to Government MPs.

MPs from Pembroke united on Christmas Eve to deliver a message that people should not suffer in silence over the holidays.

Minister of Culture and Social Rehabilitation Neletha Butterfield said that the challenges of returning to "some semblance of normalcy" after a funeral were even more challenging during the Christmas celebrations.

"A number of concerned citizens have come forward to inform us that there are families in need of assistance and who are reluctant to come forward, or are too ashamed to ask, or do not know where or who to call," said the Minister.

"My honourable colleagues, who have been canvassing their areas and consoling the families that have been affected by the gang violence, have also identified such families."

Ms Butterfield, MP for Pembroke West Central, said her Ministry could assist families "on an emergency basis", such as through the Department of Financial Assistance. The number to call is 297 7600.

MPs representing areas affected by the gang violence are also on call to help. Their phone numbers are:

Michael Weeks, Pembroke East Central: 599 3539

Wayne Perinchief, Pembroke Central: 505 4268

Ashfield DeVent, Pembroke South East: 505 9014

Neletha Butterfield, Pembroke West Central: 505 7837

Walter Roban, Pembroke East: 332 3900

People can also seek assistance or advice on the first floor of Global House, Church Street, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Ms Butterfield added the assistance was available to any other families struggling financially or otherwise over the Christmas holidays.

"While Pembroke has been particularly hard hit, we extend our hand to anyone in need in the entire community," she said.

Meanwhile, Walter Roban, Acting Minister of Public Safety, praised the efforts of the Police in deterring further violence over the past ten days.

"The stellar efforts of the Bermuda Police Service cannot go unrecognised and I must congratulate Commissioner Michael DeSilva and his team, who have focused all their efforts on stopping this violence and searching out and arresting the perpetrators," he said.

Mr. Roban also appealed to the community to come forward with "information on illegal activities".

Three people were shot dead in the space of 12 days in the run-up to Christmas as gang-related gun violence escalated on the Island.