Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Port de Paix (Fides Service) - “The tropical storm ‘Jeanne’ struck mainly the north eastern part of the country. The highest number of persons killed and the greatest damages are reported in the areas of Gonaives, Port de Paix, Cap Haitien, Mapou and in the Gros Morne region” Madame Buri, co-ordinator of Caritas emergency aid in Haiti told Fides.
“The Caritas office in Gonaives is among the many buildings under water. The most urgent needs at the present moment are food, water, medicines and sleeping bags. After making a survey and we have decided to concentrate our aid efforts on Gonaives and Port de Paix. We are relying on the support of the international Caritas network ”.
Caritas Haiti, opened in 1975, has been active since the beginning of this year to face the risk of social-political crises, and in May when severe flooding affected also the Dominican Republic. The area of Mapou was affected also by the recent hurricane Ivan. With the help of local personnel the respective diocesan Caritas offices had stocked emergency supplies of medicine and medical material, opened school refectories and centres of assistance for the sectors of the population most at risk. These structures are now proving useful to provide aid in this new emergency. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/9/2004; Righe: 15; Parole 194)
