In Haiti the panorama is heartbreaking

Port au Prince, Jan 23.- Dramatic events constantly take place in that capital and other Haitian localities, devastated by a strong quake last week and later aftershocks.

Damages are so considerable that many of the people wandering about streets looking for food refuse to accept that the earthquake was the result of a caprice of nature, and attribute it to a divine origin.

The panorama is heartbreaking, with 60 percent of buildings destroyed, and parks and plazas full of thousands of families who lost their homes. As of international aid, it seems to disappear once unloaded.

As if it were not enough, thousands of open spaces have now added to the many poor neighbourhoods existing before the quake. People of all ages try to survive, and due to lack of food, they eat whatever the found and then relieve themselves in those place.

Stations such as Radio Señal try to persuade people to put scraps on trucks passing by, to avoid epidemic outbreaks and other problems that would worsen the panorama.

Each morning, thousands of people gather in the metropolitan area of Fontamara to try to get on a public truck and leave the city, no matter if they have relatives in other areas or not.

In statements to Prensa Latina, they said they lost almost everything, their houses, their few goods, and are seeking new opportunities.

Some of them have some recovered clothes and food for the trip, others only hope for better future someday.

It is evident the aid coming from abroad does not square the magnitude of the catastrophe.

The Haitian government declared Saturday the search and rescue of quake victims has concluded, with the death toll over 111,000.

The quake, considered the greatest natural disaster in the country's history, destroyed the capital and considerably affected the cities of Jacmel, Carrefour y Leogane.

A total of 1,918 first aiders from several countries took part in search operations, and 132 people were rescued alive.

Those operations were brought to an end ten days after the quake, and efforts are now focused on those affected.

According to the Interior Ministry, the earthquake left nearly 193,000 people hurt, and over one million homeless.


In Bridgetown the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) prepares to send supplies and specialized personnel to strengthen the humanitarian mission in bloc that operates in Haiti alter last weekâs earthquake.

According to the regional Agency of Emergency and Disaster Management, the integrationist group foresees increasing to more than one thousand a contingent with 350 health professionals, rescue workers, technicians and soldiers employed throughout that sister nation.

CARICOM prepares from Jamaica, its operative center, the envoy of medicines, food and first aid articles to the disaster region.

Physicians of the Caribbean mission have cared for about 400 wounded, many with surgical interventions in the campaign hospital set up in Haiti after the quake last January 12 that resulted in almost 200,000 deaths.

Taken from Prensa Latina, ACN and Radio Havana Cuba

The rest of the group works in rescue tasks and guard convoys with indispensable materials for the survivors of the catastrophe.

In the meantime, Antigua and Barbuda sent a plane with aid from Jamaica and opened an account to collect funds.

Guyana and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines prepare two containers with water, medicines and other humanitarian articles and collect large sums through television marathons in their territory for the victims.

The 15 members of CARICOM also contribute with four million dollars for the restoration of health services in Haiti.

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