Hanna Catastrophic for Haiti
Coconut Creek, FL (September 4, 2008) – Tropical Storm Hanna has had catastrophic effects on many parts of Haiti according to reports from the small Caribbean island nation.
Food For The Poor, a leading international aid agency based in Florida, says the latest information from its employees in Haiti indicate that thousands of Haitians have been left homeless from Hanna’s strong winds, torrential rains, widespread flooding, and mudslides. The nonprofit group says that washed out roads and bridges are making it difficult to get emergency relief supplies to some parts of the island.
In the city of Gonaives, on Haiti’s northwestern coast, flooding was so bad that many there were forced to sit out the storm on their rooftops, enduring Hanna’s winds and driving rain. On Wednesday, Food For The Poor used a helicopter to bring drinking water to survivors in Gonaives.
“The water has receded a bit in Gonaives but it has left behind about 3 feet of mud,” said Food For The Poor’s Executive Director Angel Aloma. “We’re doing everything possible to get help to the survivors in Gonaives, in Port-de-Paix, in Cap-Hatien …pretty much the whole country has been devastated by the recent storms,” he said.
Aloma says that over the next two weeks, Food For The Poor is sending nearly $1,000,000 worth of aid to Caribbean storm victims but because of the wide-ranging damage, additional donations are greatly needed.
“As anyone who’s been through a hurricane knows, the ferocity of the storm can rage for hours, but it can take months or even years to rebuild,” said Aloma. “That’s why we need to keep the relief shipments going — to help those poor people rebuild their lives.”
To help victims of these devastating storms, call 1-800-487-1158.
Food For The Poor is the second-largest international relief and development organization in the nation. More than 96% of all donations received go directly to programs that help the poor. Food For The Poor provides nourishing food, safe shelter, necessary medical care, educational materials, support for orphans and the aged, and much more to the poorest of the poor in 16 countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America.
Contact:
Hugh Graf
(954) 427-2222 x 6610