HAITI: UN AND GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE RELIEF AFTER TROPICAL STORM NOËL

HAITI: UN AND GOVERNMENT JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE RELIEF AFTER TROPICAL STORM NOËL
New York, Nov 1 2007 8:00AM
Responding to the damage caused when Tropical Storm Noël swept over Haiti on 29 and 30 October, blue helmets from the United Nations Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH) helped to evacuate thousands of people, distribute meals and provide medical assistance to those affected.

Persistent heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind caused 18 deaths, 14 injured, two missing and rendered over 3,300 people homeless while destroying and damaging scores of homes, MINUSTAH said in a news release, citing official figures.

The Government of Haiti immediately began organizing the relief effort, with support from the mission, which helped evacuate thousands of people in Cité Soleil and elsewhere in the country who were threatened by rising waters.

Overall MINUSTAH helped evacuate 8,000 people, distributed 4,500 meals, and provided medical assistance to 280 patients, mostly in Port-au-Prince, Léogâne, Jacmel and Les Cayes.

"In these difficult circumstances MINUSTAH and the United Nations system reaffirm their total solidarity with the storm victims and remain ready to continue assisting the Haitian authorities with all the resources they have available," the mission said.

2007-11-01 00:00:00.000

___________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news
To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/

_______________________________

To change your profile or unsubscribe go to:
http://www.un.org/apps/news/email/