September 28, 2004, 08:05
More than a week after devastating floods hit northern Haiti the death count rose sharply as reports came in from remote areas today and aid workers struggled to feed thousands of desperate people. The estimated toll from the floods triggered by Tropical Storm Jeanne climbed to about 2 400 after a parish priest reported "a total disaster" in small towns in Poteau, a region outside Gonaives.
In Gonaives, young men grabbed food from an aid convoy and others robbed women for bags of rice. Aid workers, backed by armed UN peacekeeping forces, increased the number of distribution points for emergency supplies to four but still faced tense crowds of destitute people clamoring for help.
Angry men complained about a policy of handing out food only to women, who traditionally care for the feeding of their households, and many women despaired of getting clean water for drinking and cooking, resorting to muddy wells. "We don't know if the water is good, but we have to use it. If we don't cook anything my children are going to die," said Jacqueline Orassin, a 49-year-old with six children.
Torrential rain from Tropical Storm Jeanne engulfed much of the port city of 200 000 people last week. Government estimates had put the death toll at 1 650, with about 800 missing. However, Toussaint Chery, who as parish priest is Poteau's top authority, said about 1 000 people had died in 18 rural communities in his region. At least 750 of those deaths had not been previously reported, taking the nationwide toll from Jeanne to about 2 400.
More than a week after devastating floods hit northern Haiti the death count rose sharply as reports came in from remote areas today and aid workers struggled to feed thousands of desperate people. The estimated toll from the floods triggered by Tropical Storm Jeanne climbed to about 2 400 after a parish priest reported "a total disaster" in small towns in Poteau, a region outside Gonaives.
In Gonaives, young men grabbed food from an aid convoy and others robbed women for bags of rice. Aid workers, backed by armed UN peacekeeping forces, increased the number of distribution points for emergency supplies to four but still faced tense crowds of destitute people clamoring for help.
Angry men complained about a policy of handing out food only to women, who traditionally care for the feeding of their households, and many women despaired of getting clean water for drinking and cooking, resorting to muddy wells. "We don't know if the water is good, but we have to use it. If we don't cook anything my children are going to die," said Jacqueline Orassin, a 49-year-old with six children.
Torrential rain from Tropical Storm Jeanne engulfed much of the port city of 200 000 people last week. Government estimates had put the death toll at 1 650, with about 800 missing. However, Toussaint Chery, who as parish priest is Poteau's top authority, said about 1 000 people had died in 18 rural communities in his region. At least 750 of those deaths had not been previously reported, taking the nationwide toll from Jeanne to about 2 400.
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