Published: 1 June 2004
The impact of the floods and landslides that have devastated large parts of the Dominican Republic and Haiti will be felt for some considerable time to come, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said today, as it announced a significant increase in its appeal for the victims of the disaster.
On 28 May, the Federation launched an appeal for 912,000 Swiss francs (US$ 717,000). Given the severity of the situation, this has now been revised to 2.4 million Swiss francs (US$ 1.9 million). The operation aims to help 25,000 people by supplying them with food, kitchen equipment and stoves, plastic sheeting, jerry cans, tents, treated mosquito nets and first aid kits. The Federation will also supply two water treatment plants and truck safe water to affected communities.
The floods and landslides have claimed an estimated 2,000 lives and left thousands more stranded and homeless. The death toll is certain to rise as more bodies are found in the floodwaters. Many areas, such as the Haitian town of Mapou, are still inaccessible except by helicopter, severely hampering the relief effort.
The Dominican Red Cross and Haitian National Red Cross Society, which have been joined by experts from the Federation’s Pan-American Disaster Response Unit and from other National Red Cross Societies, responded immediately to the floods. They took part in search and rescue operations, evacuated those affected and distributing food, water and their limited emergency stocks of relief items. Volunteers have also been engaged in offering psychological support to the victims and educating people about the importance of drinking safe water and avoiding health risks.