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Heavy Rains Soak Haiti

   VOA News 11 February 2010
   Scene at a tent city in Port-au-Prince

Photo: VOA

   Scene at a tent city in Port-au-Prince

   Heavy  rains  have  soaked Haiti, raising fears about flooding and the
   spread of disease among the estimated one million people left homeless
   by last month's earthquake.
   Reports  early  Thursday  from  the  capital,  Port-au-Prince, say the
   homeless  were  drenched  by the overnight rains, as few had more than
   bed sheets strung over poles for shelter.
   The  United  Nations  and  other  aid  agencies  say  the rains are an
   indication  of  what can be expected from the rainy season that begins
   in just weeks.
   They  say  shelter  and sanitation are the two greatest concerns.  Aid
   workers are rushing to try to set up more permanent shelters.
   The  aid  organization  CARE  says  it  is  working to build latrines,
   because  the  disposal  of  human waste is a serious problem that will
   only worsen with the rain and standing water.
   On  Wednesday,  government  officials  said  the  death  toll from the
   January 12 earthquake is estimated between 217,000 and 230,000.
   The  Haitian  government  has  declared  Friday, February 12, a day of
   mourning  to  mark  one month since the 7.0 magnitude quake struck the
   Western Hemisphere's poorest country.
   Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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