Water Disaster Leaves at Least 42 People Dead

Water Disaster Leaves at Least 42 People Dead

(UnitedVoice.com) – Haiti has suffered a number of natural disasters over the last decade or so. In 2021, a massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck, followed by a tropical storm days later. Recently, the country experienced massive flooding.

Over the weekend of June 3 to 4, heavy rains pelted Haiti’s central, western, southeastern, and northwestern regions, causing devastating floods. More than 13,600 homes were underwater, leaving nearly 20,000 people homeless. At least 42 people have died in the disaster, but many more are still missing. Emergency workers are trying to provide drinking water, food, and shelter for those left without homes. The waters also destroyed agricultural land and killed livestock. The disaster began just three days into hurricane season.

On June 5, Haiti’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator, Jean-Martin Bauer, issued a statement about the flooding, saying the Directorate General for Civil Protection had activated the National Emergency Operations Centre. According to the statement, 5.2 million people required humanitarian assistance. The nation plans to reach 3.2 million, which means it needs at least $720 million.

Bauer said he’s very concerned about the flooding coming at “a time when the Haitian population is already highly vulnerable.” He said donors are going to be “critical in responding to these floods and preparing for future weather events.”

As the country searched for flood survivors, they were hit with another disaster: a 4.9-magnitude earthquake rocked the island on June 6. At least three people died in the city of Jérémie, the same region hit by an earthquake two years ago that killed 2,200 people.

The US Embassy in Haiti has issued a travel advisory to American citizens who might want to visit the island. They warned that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center has said there could be five to nine hurricanes this season, including one to four that could be major. The embassy urged US citizens to prepare for the upcoming season.

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