Tomas Threatening Misery Plagued Nation Of Haiti
MIAMI (CBS4) - A devastating earthquake, a cholera plague, and now Tomas. Haiti, a nation already immersed in misery, faces the spectre of tropical storm Tomas redeveloping into a hurricane by week's end with the potential of bringing crippling wind and rain as it tracks across Hispaniola.
In Haiti, tents are home to the earthquake-displaced masses; fragile shelter that Tomas might easily blow - or wash - away.
The Haitian government on Wednesday called for a voluntary evacuation of one tent city. Corail-Cesselesse, an organized relocation camp with thousands of tents lined up in neat rows on graded mountain soil and billed as hurricane-resistant, has been deemed unsafe by government officials.
On Tuesday, the nearly eight thousand residents of the camp were told to find somewhere else to ride out the storm.
But the residents of Corail-Cesselesse represent only a tiny fraction of the estimated 1.5 million Haitian people who are living in tents, and for whom evacuation is not possible.
In South Florida's Haitian community, the anguished question was: How much can a people endure?
"The government is very concerned, the people are scared to death, and here in Florida we are gravely concerned," said Marleine Bastien of the organization Haitian Women of Miami.
At the social services agency in Little Havana, receptionist Fonia Innocent tried to focus on her work but was distracted by a newspaper headline chronicling the growing bad news from home, and by concern for her scores of relatives there.
"Worry. A lot of worry and anxiety," Innocent said of her state of mind. "Just not knowing what is going to happen to them is mind-racking."
The Miami-based U.S. Southern Command dispatched the USS Iwo Jima, a ship resembling a small aircraft carrier to the area of Haiti to assist if Tomas visits more disaster upon the country.
The Iwo Jima carries 1,600 personnel, including engineers, medical staff and logistical experts equipped to engage in humanitarian relief operations. The ship can launch helicopters and rapid amphibious vessels to deliver people and supplies to stricken areas.
Relief agencies in Haiti say food is not a concern.
"The World Food Program has sufficient food in Haiti to feed 1.1. million people for six weeks," said the agency's Myrta Kaullard.
There is concern though that heavy rains could bring floods and mudslides that could render relief supplies stranded.
In Little Haiti, Bastien issued a plea for a divine hand to turn or dissipate Tomas.
"We are asking everybody to pray for us, pray for the people of Haiti in this hour," Bastien said.
Bastien said while billions of dollars have been pledged to a rebuilding effort in Haiti, only two percent of the money has actually been put to work. She called on the Haitian government and other agencies to coordinate more quickly and effectively in constructing safe housing.
Aid agencies say the best way to help Haitians with food, water, medical help and clothing is to make a monetary contribution to the relief organization of your choice. A list of organizations and links are available by clicking here.
