Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Thousands Feared Dead, Missing After Haitian Earthquake

   Haitians  are  lining  bodies  along the streets of Port-au-Prince and
   searching  for  survivors  of  the most powerful earthquake to hit the
   Caribbean nation in 200 years.

   VOA News 13 January 2010
   Haitian  presidential palace stands in ruins in Port-au-Prince, 13 Jan
   2010

Photo: AFP

   Haitian  presidential palace stands in ruins in Port-au-Prince, 13 Jan
   2010

   Thousands  of  people are feared dead, and many are missing, including
   many members of the United Nations mission to Haiti.
   France's  Foreign  Minister  Bernard  Kouchner  told  French  radio he
   believes the U.N. mission chief, Hedi Annabi, is dead.
   The  7.0 magnitude earthquake struck just outside the capital Tuesday,
   collapsing   the  main  hospital,  the  presidential  palace,  several
   ministries and the headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping mission.
   Roads are blocked and communication and power lines are out across the
   city,  making  it  difficult to determine the extent of the casualties
   and damage. A Brazilian military official has confirmed four Brazilian
   soldiers with the U.N. mission are dead.
   Aid  agencies  in  Haiti  are  responding to the disaster as offers of
   international aid pour in.
   The  Red  Cross  in  Geneva  says  up  to  3  million people have been
   affected.  The  international  aid agency says there is an urgent need
   for search and rescue volunteers as well as field hospitals, emergency
   health, water purification and telecommunications.
   The  organization  says  it  has volunteers in the country and expects
   another team to arrive in Haiti later Wednesday.
   The  quake  was also felt in the Dominican Republic, where some people
   ran out of their homes as walls and windows shook.
   Haiti is the Western Hemisphere's poorest country.  Recent development
   efforts  have  suffered severe setbacks because of political violence,
   lawlessness, corruption and natural disasters.
   Seventy percent of the population lives on the equivalent of less than
   $2 per day.

.