Tropical Storm Grace Worsens Situation in Haiti
5 Min Read
More than 1,900 dead bodies have been recovered from the 7.2 magnitude deadly earthquake in Haiti.
According to the CBC, the deadly earthquake in Haiti left more than 1,900 people dead and 9,900 people wounded by evening on Tuesday. Many of the injured civilians are waiting for medical help in the streets.
Tropical storm Grace has halted the government's emergency response efforts as heavy rain has left thousands homeless.
The Capital of Port au Prince and the city of Les cave were hit with intermittent rain after the devastation from the earthquake.
The hardest-hit area was the southwestern region, as heavy rain and hard winds thrust through the area. Officials warned that over 38cm of rainfall was possible in certain regions before the storm subsided.
The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, Haiti's most recent disaster comes after already dealing with a pandemic, gang violence, and the assassination of the President, Jovenel Mossé on July 27.
The Need for additional supplies
Carl-Henry Petit-Frere, a field manager for Save the Children, disclosed that numerous children were orphaned as a result of the earthquake, and some youth had no means of finding nutrition. Save the Children stated that it was distributing help to those outdoors with no protection from the storm.
Petit-Frere warned that young children should not go into homes for fear that they might collapse. He added, "I see children crying on the street, people asking us for food, but we are low on food ourselves as well."
"The organizations that are here are doing what they can, but we need more supplies. Food, clean water, and shelter are needed most, and we need them fast."
Les Cayes' hospital was overcrowded with patients after the earthquake, forcing many to lie on patios, corridors, and hallways, as officials scrambled to relocate them as best they could before the storm.
This is not the first issue the hospital has had to deal with. For three months, the morgue's refrigeration has been out of order. After the earthquake on Saturday, staff had to store up to 20 bodies in the limited space. Relatives quickly arrived and transported the majority of the deceased to private embalming services or immediate burial.
-
Wounded victims of the earthquake outside the Immaculée Conception hospital
Dr. Paurus Michelete, one of the only on-call doctors during the quake, has treated 250 patients. "After two days, they are almost always generally infected," he said. He also mentioned that due to the high volume of patients, pain relievers, analgesics, and steel pins to repair fractures were running out.
Elsewhere, searchers and scrap metal scavengers sifted through the floors of a destroyed hotel in the seaside town, where the bodies of 15 people had been recovered.
However, finding survivors looked doubtful based on the magnitude of the holes that employees gingerly gazed into, which were about 30 centimeters deep.
Running out of fuel and funds
Les Cayes' inhabitants scoured destroyed houses for scrap metal to sell as income in a shortage of fuel and money. Others awaited money transferred in from overseas, a previous lifeline for Haiti's economy ahead of the earthquake.
With exceptional waiting times, Anthony Emile reported waiting 6 hours to receive a money transfer wired from his brother in Chile. Emile is a banana farmer whose relatives depend on for income.
Over 7,000 homes were demolished and over 5,000 were damaged in the magnitude 7.2 earthquake, according to officials. 30,000 people have been rendered homeless. Numerous establishments such as schools and hospitals were also severely damaged or destroyed.
Damage Assessment
Miyamoto International, an international earthquake and structural engineering business, sent experts to devastated areas on Monday to assist with damage assessment and search and rescue efforts. According to CEO and president Kit Miyamoto, one of their main responsibilities is checking government water towers as well as the wrecked offices of local charities.
Miyamoto has seen earthquake-struck regions recover and become stronger. According to him, the devastation caused by the 2010 earthquake in Port-au-Prince prompted masons and others to enhance their construction methods. People in the capital felt the tremor on Saturday morning, which was centered around 120 kilometers to the west, and hurried into the streets in panic, but no damage was reported.
Miyamoto stated that "The structure of Port-au-Prince is much better than it was in 2010 — I know that." He added that "It's a huge difference, but that knowledge is not widespread. The focus is definitely on Port-au-Prince."
