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Jeanne Ravages Haiti
Written by
Lesly C. Hallman
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Wednesday, September 22, 2004 — In the deadliest storm to hit the Caribbean this season, Hurricane Jeanne left at least 1,000 dead on the island nation of Haiti before slamming into Florida.
In Haiti, relief workers distributed supplies to hungry residents who said they had not eaten since their homes were destroyed last weekend.
The northern city of Gonaives was devastated, and residents are wading through streets trying to find missing loved ones and mourning the dead. Mass graves are being dug and hundreds of bodies were in the town’s hospital, turning it into a morgue. Some officials have reported that as much as 80 percent of the country is under water to some degree, and they expect fatalities to rise as the water subsides.
The British Red Cross distributed 5,000 blankets, plastic sheeting, 1,100 hygiene kits and 900 kitchen sets to meet the immediate needs of people on the island, many of whom have been left homeless.
The carnage in Haiti comes less than four months after heavy rains caused flooding that killed at least 1,600 and left at least 1,700 others missing and presumed dead. Haiti is prone to flooding because of heavy deforestation that has left the country without natural barriers to hold back rushing waters or deadly mudslides.
The Haitian National Red Cross Society is working with Red Cross societies around the world, as well as other humanitarian agencies, to mobilize the delivery of food and relief items to devastated residents.
“The international Red Cross community has come together to support the dire needs of these flood victims,” said American Red Cross spokeswoman Jacki Flowers.
Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas, with a per capita income of about $1,400 annually and a life expectancy of 53. The country has also experienced widespread political unrest this year.
The Dominican Republic, Haiti's neighbor to the east, also experienced widespread flooding and power outages. According to the Dominican Red Cross at least 8,000 people were evacuated and moved into shelters, and many returned home to find extensive damage to houses and crops.
The Pan-American Disaster Response Unit, a regional, highly-specialized disaster response division of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is beginning damage assessments and distribution of supplies in the affected areas with the Haitian National Red Cross Society.
You can help those affected by the flooding in the Dominican Republic and Haiti and countless other crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance, and other support to those in need. Donate online or call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Donations can also be mailed to your local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
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