More Support for Haiti storm survivors

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

~~Adz:Left~~ PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – ACCORDING to Caribbean 360, storm survivors in Haiti would get a boost from the United Nations (UN) fund established to help in the aftermath of major disasters.

John Holmes, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, stated after the conclusion of his two-day trip to Haiti that he would be willing to make an additional allocation from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to assist the country.

Haiti remains in desperate need of support after the passage of tropical storm Fay and hurricanes Ike, Hanna and Gustav between mid-August and September which devastated the country, leaving 800 people dead and causing flooding and deforestation, most notably in the city of Gonaives, which was almost completely submerged.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Human Affairs (OCHA) reported that only US$24.8M of the US$106M requested by aid agencies to help with relief efforts has been received.

Holmes stressed the need to help Haiti make a well-managed transition from relief to construction and development.