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Friday, March 29, 2024

Haiti lies in ruin after being struck by hurricanes

CSMS Magazine Staff Writers

 The scenes are ugly at best and gruesome at worst. A mother and its three children spent 2 days on the rooftop of her house with no food before being rescued by waders in the city of Gonaives, a city that is still under water a week after hurricane Ike swept the Island with gusting winds that collapsed buildings, submerged blocks after blocks and sent more than 170, 000 homeless. Late this morning, report coming out of Port-de-Paix—some thirty miles north of Gonaives—confirmed that about a third of the population has been stricken by the killer storm that has already claimed the lives of 326 people, according to Haitian Interior Minister, Paul-Antoine Bien-Aimé.The death toll may soon rise as more bodies are being pulled beneath the debris. An other fifty people are also being reported missing while 190 said to be wounded. In just 4 weeks, 4 storms whipped Haiti, leaving one to wonder if Mother Nature has gotten the sense the country has not suffered enough, and that she had to intervene to finish it all.While we are writing this piece, thousands of Haitian expatriates around the world are rallying to land a hand to the Motherland. Several international agencies are already on the ground, and some much needed clean water and food have been distributed in and around Gonaives.But there is also great suspicion that fat belly parasites have already put their guns at the ready, ready to make fortunes off the plight of an exhausted and hungry population longing for a decent relief.  Haiti’s government is the root of this tragedy, for taking a complete blind eye on the barren landscape around Gonaives, thereby exposing its population to hurricane landslides.Canada has announced a 5 million dollar fund to help hurricane victims while the UN is urging the donor countries to donate a 100 million-aid package.  But if you want help Haiti, Cuba or the Turks and Caicos, below are some of the places where you can call:Cross International: Seeks donations to supply food. Go to crossinternational.org or call 800-391-8545. The American Red Cross: Takes donations of cash and supplies. Go to redcross.org or send to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami: Monetary donations. Mail checks to Catholic Charities, Storm Aid, 9401 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Shores, FL 33138, ccadm.org or 305-762-3006. Planting Peace: Monetary donations, baby food, cornmeal and canned goods. 1203 N. Federal Highway, Hollywood. PlantingPeace.org or 954-394-4989.Project Medishare for Haiti Inc.: Monetary donations to provide medical services. 8260 NE Second Ave., Miami, FL 33138, or SunSentinel.com/give. Put “Haiti Relief Fund” in the field marked “other.”G&G Shipping: Canned goods for Turks and Caicos, 1300 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale. 954-920-9292.Just Posh Jackie’s Creation beauty salon: Medical supplies, canned foods and emergency items for Turks and Caicos. 6447 Pembroke Road, Hollywood. 954-961-2224. Catholic Relief Services and Caritas Cubana: Monetary donations for aid to Cuba. P.O. Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21203-7090, 888-277-7575 or crs.org, code 2770-1284.Food and clothing drop-offs: St. James Catholic Church, 540 NW 132nd St., North Miami; Holy Family Catholic Church, 14500 NE 11th Ave., Miami; Notre Dame D’ Haiti Mission, 110 NE 62nd St., Miami; St. Joseph Haitian Mission, 1210 NW Sixth Ave., Pompano Beach.Minority Development & Empowerment Inc.: Monetary donations. MD&E Inc. c/o Hurricane Relief, 3075 W. Oakland Park Blvd., Suite 205, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33311. 954-315-4530.Food for the Poor: Seeking monetary donations and canned foods. 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek. foodforthepoor.com or 800-487-1158.Cross International: Seeks donations to supply food. Go to crossinternational.org or call 800-391-8545. The American Red Cross: Takes donations of cash and supplies. Go to redcross.org or send to P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013Also see:  Robert Manuel’s rejection: A second blow to René Préval A vote 51-35 derailed Preval’s effort to install new Prime Minister Rene Prevsl takes officeHaiti: the lies will never endWill Haiti Ever Regain Its Sanity?Will Haiti ever achieve responsible governance?High Noon for René Préval in Haiti

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