Nearly 1941 people have died in Haiti as a powerful earthquake hit. It is a rise with more than 500 figures from the previous figures. The rescue workers have already managed to pull 34 people who are alive from the rubble.
The search for these survivors has already been disrupted due to heavy rains. Nearly 10000 people are facing injury, and the hospitals are in a mess. The UN says that nearly 500000 children are now having no access to safe water, food, or shelter.
Bruno Mars, the UN Children’s Fund representative in the country, said that “Countless Haitian families who have lost everything due to the earthquake are now living literally with their feet in the water due to the flooding.”
People are staying in makeshift tents on a football field in Les Cayes city. This city is facing the worst kind of effects due to the earthquake.
“Yesterday [Tuesday] evening, I took shelter near a church, but when I heard the ground shake again, I ran to return here, ” city resident Magalie Cadet said.
She said that few structures are still standing in Les Cayes where people are relieving on the streets. Haitians are now living in more remote areas, which makes the aid difficult to reach out to them. A pastor said that they want to do everything, but they do not have the money or resources.
The World Food Programme of the UN said that it was working with the Haitian authorities to offer assistance to the survivors. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that the negotiations and the armed gangs attacked people traveling to Les Cayes. But they have promised to let the aid convoy go through.
However, the heavy rains due to the tropical Storm Grace made many roads in the mountainous regions impossible to pass. The southwest of Haiti is suffering the worst due to the damage from this quake.
This earthquake is another problem in the nation that is already struggling with the political crisis. PM Ariel Henry is now in power until a fresh election takes place. He has declared a month-long state of emergency.
Also, he has urged the population to stay in solidarity. A powerful earthquake hit the country in 2010, which killed 200000 people. Also, it caused extensive damage to the economy and infrastructure of the country.
Credits: BBC
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