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U.S. Providing Humanitarian Assistance to the People of Haiti
WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810
2004-042
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2004
Contact: USAID Press Office
WASHINGTON, DC - Several days of heavy rains have caused rivers to overflow in areas near the southern border of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, resulting in an unconfirmed total of more than 550 deaths in both countries, according to international media reports. On ground assessment by the United Nations, Direction de la Protection Civile (DPC), and non government organizations (NGOs) indicate a total of 571 deaths and 74 missing in the Southeast, South, and Western Departments. The total number of wounded in these departments is estimated at 850. The largest number of deaths occurred in the Southeast Department with 100 dead in Grand Gosier and 289 deaths in Belle Anse and Bodary.
The area most affected by the flooding in Haiti has been the town of Fonds Verrettes, located near the Dominican border town of Jimani. On May 25th, U.S. government officials and representatives from the U.N. and the Government of Haiti conducted a rapid assessment of Fonds Verrettes, with support from Multinational Interim Force-Haiti. 18,000 liters of water, 10 pallets of fruit, and 10 pallets of bread to were airlifted, via helicopter, to the affected area. The assessment indicated that 346 people in Fonds Verrettes are dead or missing. Approximately 7,000 people are in urgent need of assistance and 2,400 homes were either destroyed or damaged. As a result of the heavy flooding, roads are impassable and the area is severed from the rest of the country and the Dominican Republic.
Due to the magnitude of damage caused by the flooding, on Wednesday, May 26th, U.S. Ambassador to Haiti James B. Foley issued a disaster declaration. In response, USAID $50,000 to the USAID mission in Haiti to assist in the disaster response efforts. USAID will provide $40,000 to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to purchase and distribute emergency non-food relief supplies, including hygiene kits, cooking kits, blankets, and water containers. USAID will also provide up to $10,000 of fuel for use by the Government of Haiti's Ministry of Public Works for urgent road repair in the affected area. USAID advisors are on standby to deploy to the affected area if necessary.
Donations
The most effective way people can assist relief efforts is by making cash contributions to humanitarian organizations that are conducting relief operations. Two such organizations that are accepting donations for their response efforts are:
American Red Cross, (800)435-7669, www.redcross.org
World Vision, (888) 511-6598, www.worldvision.org
USAID encourages cash donations. They allow aid professionals to procure the exact items needed and reduce the burden on scarce resources and can be transferred quickly and without transportation costs. Cash donations also support the economy of the disaster-stricken region and ensure culturally, dietary and environmentally appropriate assistance.
USAID will continue to monitor the situation. For more information on USAID's ongoing efforts in Haiti, please visit www.usaid.gov.
The U.S. Agency for International
Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance
worldwide for more than 40 years.
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