Hurricanes cause widespread death, destruction and displacement in Latin America’s poorest country.
Haiti is facing a humanitarian catastrophe following the devastating passage of hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike, which have hit the Caribbean island in quick succession.
The most affected regions are in the North and South-East, with the cities of Artibonite and Gonaives – Haiti’s second-largest – suffering extensive damage.
The hurricanes have killed hundreds of people, led to thousands more being displaced and have destroyed countless homes and buildings. The widespread destruction of agricultural crops has also increased concerns about food security on the island.
Evacuate
Volunteers and staff from the Haiti Red Cross have been working tirelessly to evacuate people from the hurricanes’ path, provide shelter and distribute relief items in the affected areas.
Schools have been closed and many are being used as shelters. However, many do not have energy, latrines, water or food and the people sleeping in them are increasingly vulnerable.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has been working on the ground throughout the hurricane season, providing support to the Haiti Red Cross Society. An appeal for 3.8 million Swiss francs was launched on 5 September to help the local Red Cross provide urgent help to 50,000 of the most vulnerable people over the coming six months.
Relief
Red Cross Red Crescent societies from Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Jamaica, Norway, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland and the United States have provided equipment and personnel in support of the relief operation.
The disasters have had a huge impact on the already vulnerable people of Haiti, which is the poorest nation in Latin America.
Although aid is arriving in-country from international relief organizations and United Nations agencies, the operation is being hampered by the damage to roads and bridges, many of which have been swept away by flooding and landslides.
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The river that flows through Jacmel in southern Haiti burst over its banks after weeks of torrential rains from successive hurricanes. In the torrent, people, homes and the road which links Jacmel to La Valle were swept away. American Red Cross assessment and relief teams travelling with the Haitian Red Cross will find another way through the mountains to reach isolated communities waiting for aid. (Photo: Matt Marek/American Red Cross)
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A Haitian child finds shelter in a school in the southern city of Jacmel, where 500 people are unable to return to their communities after successive hurricanes have pummelled the island. (Photo: Matt Marek/American Red Cross)
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