Catholic Charities of Haiti calling for assistance for flood victims

Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Jun 2, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Catholic Charities of Haiti has sent a request for funds to the international network of Catholic Charities in order to continue offering assistance to flood victims in the dioceses of Port-au-Prince, Jacmel, Hinche and Cayes.

Sources from the organization said Catholic Charities of Haiti has produced a detailed evaluation of the damage caused by the floods.

According to its own estimates, in Port-au-Prince there are 156 people missing, 1,113 homes destroyed and another 1,288 damages, 5,565 people left homeless, 2,800 children unable to attend school, totaling 10,000 people directly affected in one way or another. 

In the Diocese of Jacmel, there have been 230 deaths, 850 injured, 380 homes destroyed, 2,500 people homeless, and 450 deaths of livestock animals.  In the Diocese of Hinche the number of those left homeless rises to 3,000, with 500 homes destroyed and another 500 livestock deaths.

Likewise in Cayes, 10 people have been confirmed dead and over 50 homes have been destroyed.  On the border with Haiti, the Dominican Republic city of Jimaní suffered 135 deaths with 200 people missing.

From the first moments of the disaster, Catholic Charities personnel in Haiti have been providing assistance to the victims.  With the funds received from other countries, Catholic Charities in Haiti will be ready to put into practice a post-emergency plan which will permit the basic needs of 3,000 families to be met, such as water treatment systems, school supplies, agriculture projects and family loans.