UN says 300 000 homeless after Haiti quake
2010-01-15 15:15
An estimated 300 000 people have been left homeless by the
devastating earthquake in Haiti, with one in 10 homes in the capital
Port-au-Prince, the United Nations said on Friday.
A helicopter assessment by the UN mission in Haiti found that some
areas suffered “50% destruction.”
“First estimates suggest some 10% of the housing in Port-au-Prince
has been destroyed, which roughly translates to about 300 000 people left
homeless,” said Elisabeth Byrs, spokesperson of the UN Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
An OCHA in a situation report said some 3.5 million people live in
areas hit by “strong shaking” from the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that flattened
much of Haitian capital Port-au-Prince this week.
“The estimated population of Port-au-Prince is 2.8 million, with
some 3.5 million people living in areas affected by strong shaking from the
earthquake,” it said.
Besides Port-au-Prince, Jacmel – an area south of the capital and
Carrefour – a suburb close to the capital, are also affected, according to the
aerial assessment carried out by the UN.
The agency stressed that search and rescue assistance remains the
top priority, while food, clean water and sanitation are also critical.
“Needs are expected to increase in the short term as assessments
take place,” it said, noting that casualty numbers are increasing at hospital
and clinics.
OCHA said a first flash appeal is due to be launched for Haiti on
Friday, but so far, the international community has already pledged $268.5
million (about R2 billion) in aid for victims of the devastating
earthquake.
The initial funding support came from some 20 countries,
organisations and companies.
- Sapa - AFP