UNICEF: Caribbean storms leave children and families homeless

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, 5 September 2008 -- Over 200 people are dead and nearly 600,000 urgently need help after a series of storms that have battered Haiti over the past three weeks, according to UN officials. And there may be more storms to come. Tropical Storm Hanna left the city of Gonaives flooded and residents stranded on their rooftops. It was the third major storm to hit the Caribbean in less than 21 days. Prior to Hanna, Hurricane Gustav terrorized the region. According to the Cuban Government, Gustav was the strongest hurricane to hit Cuba in more than 50 years. Thus far in Haiti, the World Food Programme and UNICEF have mobilized 7.5 metric tons of food and 60,000 litres of potable water ready to be transported by sea to the affected population. But according to UNICEF Haiti Communication Officer Louis-Etienne Vigneault, access to the region has been nearly impossible. "The first thing that really hits the population -- the women and the children -- is access to water and shelter," said UNICEF Director of Emergency Programmes Louis-Georges Arsenault. "Usually, a huge hurricane will destroy very basic poor-people's shelter." To read the full story, visit: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_45510.html

Blip | September 10, 2008

Tags:. .officials. .officer. .three. .hits. .hit