Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 7th June. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Tuesday said that UN expressed deep sadness over deadly earthquake in Haiti which killed 3 people in the city of Jerémie compounded with life-threatening situation caused by flooding and landslides.
UN reported 5.5 magnitude quake hit in the department of Grand’Anse after torrential rains displaced over 13,000 people.
UN Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric said “We are deeply saddened by the loss of life, destruction of property and suffering of the Haitian people caused by the earthquake”.
“The Secretary-General extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to all those injured.”
He said the UN stood ready to work with the Haitian authorities and other partners, to help ease the suffering of those impacted by this latest natural disaster.
WFP said that it was providing immediate assistance to those affected by the massive rainfall over the weekend, providing hot meals to those displaced, and mobilizing ready-to-eat rations and dry food.
Mr. Dujarric said that Grand’ Anse was among the areas impacted by the rains, prior to the earthquake.
According to news reports, Tuesday’s quake was the second to hit the area with a 4.4 magnitude tremor registered on Sunday morning.
In August 2021, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the same southern peninsula region, left hundreds dead.
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is working with UNICEF, WFP and the International Organization for Migration, IOM, to support communities around Port-au-Prince that were hardest hit by the floods and landslides, Dujarric added.
He confirmed that WFP is ready to distribute some 350,000 hot meals and other food assistance overall, to those who need it the most.
“Our colleagues say that ongoing insecurity and damage to roads are obviously hampering any relief efforts.”
According to UN agencies the floods and landslides affected 7 of Haiti’s 10 departments, and authorities said at least 51 people have been killed, 140 others injured and 18 are still missing.
In the affected areas, 32,000 homes were flooded, it concluded.
