PORT-AU-PRINCE – AUGUST 22: A collapsed church in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti on August 22, 2010
The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Haiti has risen to over 1,300, reported by Time as neighbouring countries rushed to send aid and rescuers scrambled to find survivors buried beneath the rumble before a tropical storm hits.
The 7.2 magnitude quake on Saturday flattened hundreds of homes and buildings in a Caribbean nation which is still clawing its way back from another major temblor 11 years ago and is reeling from the assassination of its president last month.
Eulalia Scutt, Acting Country Director for Plan International in Haiti said: “We are very worried about the impact of this earthquake. Houses and other buildings have been destroyed in vast swathes of the Grande-Anse, Nippes and Sud departments. A full picture of the damage is still emerging, but communities are in a high state of anxiety.
“This disaster comes at a time when Haiti – one of the poorest countries in the Americas – was already grappling with an extremely fragile political situation, with health services stretched to the brink by COVID-19 and widespread hunger as a result of soaring food prices. We are extremely concerned about the toll that yet another crisis will take on girls and their families.
“There is a limit to what communities can endure, and it is important that we make sure children are emotionally supported. Protection services for children and emotional care and support should be a priority. Our experience shows that children, especially girls, women and the poorest families are the hardest hit is such crises settings.
“Plan International, which has worked in Haiti for many years, has experienced staff in the country. We have put additional staff on standby to compliment the efforts of our teams on the ground in Haiti. We are monitoring the situation and working urgently to assess needs, and stand ready to provide support.”
