Copy of a message received:
------------------------------------------

De : Karen Ashmore [mailto:news@lambifund.org]
Envoyé : 4 septembre 2008 10:51
À : abance@sympatico.ca
Objet : Latest Update on Hurricane in Haiti

An update from Josette Perard, Haiti Director of the Lambi Fund of
Haiti

Yesterday, Port au Prince was in a state of panic. It was extremely
windy and raining hard. Many houses no longer have roofs, trees are
uprooted, light poles with electric lines are down… but this is
nothing compared to the devastation which has struck other communities
throughout the country.

The Minister of Education postponed the opening of classes until next
week, but in light of the unanticipated problems brought by Hanna, we
don’t know if they will not have to postpone it yet again (we have
heard that there are two other hurricanes on their way). No one is
talking about schools right now; the focus is on the damage wrought by
Gustav and Hanna. We are all thinking about how to begin tackling the
problems which have suddenly disrupted our lives.

We are receiving calls from our partner organizations with horrible
news about their communities.

The peasant organization in River Blanche (ODEPERIB) called to say
that one member of the organization has died, the flooding is really
severe, and many houses are destroyed. Some of the cisterns we have
funded have sustained a lot of damage.

The Women’s Association of Mapou Rollin, just called and Vyolèn, the
president of the organization, said that Hanna is even worse than
Jeanne. Her house is completely destroyed and she has lost
everything. The grain mill we helped build is completely flooded and
the corn and millet brought by the market women to be milled just
washed away. The chicken coop which we also helped build is being used
as shelter by over 100 local families. No one has eaten anything since
Monday.

Mme. Cedieu, a leader in the farmers’ organization of Gwomon (AGPGM),
said that she lost everything -- her crops and her animals. She said
that the land cultivated by AGPGM was devastated and all the plantain
trees are down. Fortunately our experimental field of young plantain
trees is still standing. Not too many trees were destroyed but the
irrigation pump will need to be repaired. I have not talked to the
staff member who runs the Center for Plantain Propagation to determine
its condition. We are still trying to reach him.

Tidjo (Lambi Fund Field Monitor for the North) and Margo (Lambi Fund
Advisory Board member) called us this morning and told us that the
waters are beginning to recede in Gonaives, and at Tidjo’s house as
well. Tidjo has lost everything and there are now over 60 people
seeking shelter on Tidjo’s rooftop. They have not had anything to eat
in 3 days.

Once it stops raining we will try to go to Gonaives to bring some help
to Tidjo and his family and to see in what way we can begin to help
our partner organizations and their communities. Reaching Gonaives
will be very hard, since a veritable lake now lies at the entrance of
the city.

Meanwhile, St Cyr (Lambi Fund Field Monitor for the South) has finally
gotten news from home. He came to Port-au-Prince from Les Cayes to
attend a staff meeting when he got news that his home and neighborhood
were flooded. He was extremely distressed to hear that his family and
their neighbors had to seek refuge on their roof top. He was told this
morning the waters had receded. He too has lost everything. Although
St Cyr has learned that there is no way to get to Les Cayes, because
Miragoane has overflowed, he is now determined to get back to his
family, and he will call us when he gets there.

We have heard on the radio that Torbeck and Chantal are flooded. We
are supporting projects throughout the area. We have not been able to
reach any member of our partner organizations in Belfontèn but we
heard on the radio that the area is in shambles.

The calls are trickling in we will keep you posted whenever we hear
something. Click here if you want to make a donation to help our
friends in Haiti.

Josette Perard

Address postal inquiries to:

Lambi Fund of Haiti

PO Box 18955

Washington, DC 20036-8955