IN IMAGES, IN PICTURES. In devastated southern Haiti, four days after the earthquake – franceinfo

Haiti continues to mourn its dead, four days after the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that devastated the country. The disaster has already killed 1,941 people, according to a new count, Wednesday August 18, of the direction of the civil protection of the country, in particular in the departments of the South, Grand’Anse and Nippes. But this record “remains very partial” and over 9,900 people were also injured. Back in nine photos on the disaster and its consequences.

1 Exploring the rubble

The chances of finding survivors are dwindling hour by hour, but rescuers remain mobilized. In 48 hours, Tuesday and Wednesday, they still managed to extract 34 people alive from the rubble. Due to heavy rains, however, relief operations had to be interrupted on Monday, explained to the AP agency (in English) the head of the Haitian civil protection office, Jerry Chandler. “We know from experience that you have a week to extract the wounded from the rubble”, said Didier Le Bret, former French ambassador, Tuesday on France Inter. “We must intervene quickly” because “we can still save lives”, he added, hoping that Paris quickly send specialized humanitarian aid.

2Makeshift shelters on a soccer field

In Les Cayes, one of the most affected municipalities, residents have erected shelters on a football field flooded by heavy rains. More than 200 people take refuge under sheets or tarpaulins in poor condition to protect themselves from the elements. “We resign ourselves: better to be wet than dead”, explains to RFI Natacha Lormira, one of the victims. Makeshift camps are multiplying in the south of the country, such as in Pestel, Jérémie or Camp-Perrin. In total, more than 60,000 houses were destroyed and some 500 aftershocks followed the earthquake.“It is important not to reoccupy buildings which are very damaged “, French geologist Eric Calais warned on Tuesday in The Nouvelliste, because aftershocks can reach quite large magnitudes and cause weakened buildings to collapse.

3A tropical storm after the earthquake

Haiti is also suffering from very severe weather conditions linked to the passage of tropical storm Grace. “Jsaw strong winds and heavy rainfall hitting the same areas already affected by the earthquake “, testifies Bruno Maes, of Unicef. “Countless families who lost everything to the earthquake are now literally living with their feet in the water because of the floods.” Precipitation in places may cause “major floods”, according to the US Hurricane Center. Haitian authorities have called for a “extreme vigilance” with regard to cracked houses, which could collapse under the weight of the rain.

Last night, I saw strong winds and heavy rainfall strike the same areas already affected by the earthquake. Countless Haitian families who have lost everything due to the earthquake are now living literally with their feet in the water due to the flooding. @Unicef @uniceflac pic.twitter.com/pCDg2Exs07

– Bruno Maes (@BrunoMaesUnicef) August 18, 2021

4Mattresses in front of the Port-Salut hospital

Residents faced a dilemma: stay outside to protect themselves from aftershocks, or enter damaged buildings to shelter from the elements. Example at Port-Salut hospital. “It still shakes so that’s why we are installed outside”, Wilfried Labaye explained to AFP on Monday. But on Monday afternoon, the hospital decided to transfer the sick inside the building, despite fears of aftershocks.

Hospitals are overwhelmed, as in Les Cayes, near the epicenter. “We need medicine, bandages, splints, but also gloves and gauze and adhesives”, testified the administrator Arcérius Améthyste, Monday on franceinfo.

5A gutted church

Almost nothing remains of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, in the commune of the English. This building, built in 1907, did not withstand the shocks, which brought down its bell tower on the facade. Unfortunately, many faithful were gathered during the earthquake. Priest Wilson Exantus Antoine tells RFI that 17 people died that morning. “The oldest victim was only 24 years old.”

6A tanker truck for water supplies

Another emergency in the disaster areas: access to drinking water and sanitation. “We have multiple water pipes that have exploded” during the earthquake, also explained Bruno Maes. “Drinking water and sanitation systems no longer work in the towns of Jérémie, Les Cayes, not to mention the small towns.” One of the priorities of NGOs and public authorities is now to “rehabilitate water systems in towns and cities, but above all reduce the risk of epidemics “.

7The crowd during a rice distribution

Food distributions are continuing to help the affected residents. The government even had to raise his voice in the face of soaring prices in certain businesses. In addition, transport is complicated by the chronic insecurity which plagues the road between the capital and the South. “We still have security challenges, the south of the city of Port-au-Prince, controlled by armed groups, means that the passage to Martissant is not easy”, commented Monday on franceinfo Bruno Maes, representative of Unicef ​​in Haiti.

8An American ship as humanitarian aid

THE’USS Arlington, a US Navy transport ship, was due in Haiti on Wednesday with a surgical team, Pentagon Southern Command said. The United States evacuated around 40 people for urgent treatment with three Coast Guard helicopters. They also chartered eight army helicopters from Honduras to continue medical evacuation efforts. EU has also unblocked aid of 3 million euros.