Fay Gustav and Hanna Sets Haiti Farther Behind
Fay, Gustav and Hanna Take the Lead in Setting Haiti Farther Behind
Tropical storms Fay, Gustav and Hanna have done their part to set Haiti back in the last two weeks.
In Gonaives, it's deja vu all over again.
Elsewhere trees have been uprooted, livestock lost, crops destroyed and thousands have lost the shack they called home.
Karen Ashmore of the Lambi Fund has posted this appeal which I am pleased to reproduce.
"In the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, less than a week ago, devastation has struck Haiti.
There are many victims who have been left homeless.
The city of Gonaives is now under 2 meters of water.
Since Monday morning strong rain has pounded mountain villages throughout Haiti and the waters gushing from the mountains are carrying mud and anything in their paths to flood the valley city of Gonaives.
Tidjo (Lambi Fund of Haiti regional coordinator for Northern Haiti) and Margot (Lambi Fund advisory board member) called at 3 am to inform us that Tidjo's home was flooded.
Margot was traveling and had to seek refuge at Tidjo's home. Due to the sturdiness of Tidjo's home, over 20 neighbors had sought shelter on the roof top.
Many others have sought refuge on their roof tops, Gonaive's hospitals are flooded and are asking for help in moving and securing their patients.
The city does not have the capacity to handle this emergency and the mayor has sought assistance.
St Cyr (Lambi Fund regional coordinator for Southern Haiti) came to Port-au-Prince for a staff meeting, just called home and was informed that his neighborhood in the South is completely flooded and the rushing waters have carried away many of their household items.
His family has had to seek shelter on their rooftop.
Hurricane Hanna came too closely on the heels of Gustav and stalled over Haiti.The flooding from both hurricanes caused hundreds of deaths, loss of crops, homes, micro-enterprises and animals due to heavy rainfalls.
Although food aid is a temporary solution, ultimately, Haiti desperately requires investments in sustainable development in an effort to restore environmental integrity and reduce poverty.
A close neighbor to the U.S., Haiti desperately needs support in rebuilding the communities ravaged by the recent storms, but also needs support in becoming self-sufficient.
Natural disasters cannot be avoided, but the severe devastation caused by it can surely be mitigated.
To support the sustainable development rebuilding efforts of Lambi Fund of Haiti, please go here and make an online donation.
We will keep you posted on further details.
Meanwhile forward this email to those who share your values.
Karen Ashmore
Executive Director
The Lambi Fund
Please do your part to help the Haitians in distress
Jocelyn McCalla
JMC STRATEGIES LLC
JMC STRATEGIES LLC provides management, fundraising and development, grassroots campaign consulting services to public and private sector entities, for profit and non-profits alike.
