UN official overwhelmed by Haiti storm destruction

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – ACCORDING to Caribbean Net News, United Nations (UN) Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes has stated that he is moved by the damage caused to the storm-affected Haiti.

The passage of tropical storm Fay and Hurricanes Ike, Hanna and Gustav between mid-August and September devastated Haiti, leaving 800 people dead and causing floods and deforestation, most notably in the city of Gonaives which was almost completely submerged.

Holmes toured Gonaives and met with representatives from the UN, non-governmental organisations and Haitian President René Prèval.

“It’s depressing and moving to see this. After six weeks there is still a lot of water and blood,” said Holmes, whose two-day visit concluded on Saturday (Oct. 25), the aim of which was to assess the humanitarian response to the crisis.

UN officials estimate that the country received only 15 percent of the $108M it has been seeking from the international community. To compound the situation, the World Food Programme is warning that food aid could stop in November if the international community does not act.

Meanwhile, in lighter news, Haiti has become the recipient of a US$25M grant from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
The initiative is aimed at improving the road network and maintenance in south-western Haiti, where many towns and villages are difficult to reach by overland transportation.

The grant is part of a four-phase IDB programme to provide the country with US$100M to rehabilitate roads in its southern peninsul