Salem-News.com Disaster articles Page 19

Local Citizens Aid Haitan Recovery Without Leaving Salem

CrisisCamp Volunteers Transform Disaster Relief.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Injured Haitians frantically sent calls for help – many from within the rubble– via cell phones texts hoping someone would respond.

WHO Calls Breastfeeding Best Answer for Newborns in Haiti

Risks of miscarriages and other complications are serious.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - The United Nations reports that about 7,000 women are due to give birth this month in Haiti, as medical teams continue to work around the clock in birthing tents to deliver newborns.

According to UNICEF, there are currently 120,000 pregnant women in Haiti, more than half are in earthquake-affected areas.

Schools in Haiti Still Under Plenty of Rubble

Many survivors still harbor fears of ever being in a classroom again.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - As schools in other provinces in Haiti reopened today, students of Port-au- Prince’s Daniel Fignolé high school, one of 8,000 schools damaged by the earthquake, still grieved their deceased classmates and teachers as well as struggled with the traumatic memories of being in a classroom again.

Louis Montespoir is the Director of the Daniel Fignole School. "We don't have any teachers that died in the building - but some died elsewhere. But we have 700 students who died."

Escaped Prison Population Poses Threat in Haiti

Officials plan to build areas to house the recaptured inmates, most likely outside the capital, but so far they have only recaptured 36 of some 5,100 missing prisoners.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - Thousands of inmates fled Haiti’s main prison after buildings collapsed during the earthquake on 13 January, and they have posed a threat to security in this battered island nation.

Officials say Prison Civile de Port-au-Prince had been burned down by the prisoners after the earthquake in an attempt to destroy prison records. With the capital in such a vulnerable state, there was some concern that escapees may return to areas like Cite Soleil and try and form gangs.

Haiti Amputees Struggle Amidst Destruction

There is also an increasing need for rehabilitation services.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - Medical facilities in Haiti continued to see thousands of cases of infections and crush injuries leading to an increasing number of amputees in dire need of crutches and prostheses.

World Food Program Faces Logistical Challenges in Haiti

This week, three WFP-contracted helicopters will be operational in Haiti and nearly 75 trucks were also due to arrive.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - Despite massive logistical challenges since the earthquake struck, the WFP has delivered more than 3.6 million rations so far. The overall security situation is generally calm, but incidents throughout the city have hampered distributions in the past few days.

All cargo transport took place in convoys with appropriate security, and security was also required at distribution sites. WFP worked closely with MINUSTAH and the US military to ramp up security and minimize disruption to food distributions.

Arab Nations Unite in Relief Effort for Haiti

The Israeli assistance receives the attention of U.S. media, but many Islamic nations are also helping substantially.

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - While not drawing press attention to their efforts, Arab nations have united to provide needed assistance to support the humanitarian relief work being undertaken in Haiti.

The Arab American Institute (AAI) believes that their generosity should be showcased, and has compiled a list of Arab nation contributions from information available to date.

Back to Basics

America’s involvement in the Middle East is due as much to the support of the military as to determination of Evangelists.

(PASO ROBLES, Calif.) - In the 1950's and 60's, banks were not permitted to operate beyond state lines. All that changed, and we have seen what happened; banks too large to fail have also become obscene payers of bonuses to employees that adds them to a list of nouveau-rich at the expense of ordinary people. It is time to get back to basics.

Billions of dollars that should more wisely be spent may not be. And now the Supreme Court has added its voice in the interest of bigness and aristocracy, to what once was the best defense against such intended prolificacy.

Haiti`s Displaced Number Close to a Million

So far, there are 591 improvised settlements with approximately 692,000 displaced people in the Port-au-Prince region alone.

(PETION-VILLE/SALEM) - At a golf course in Petion-Ville, where thousands of displaced Haitians live in camps without access to toilets and basic food supplies and water, some have started small businesses to survive.

Dealing With Haiti`s Dead

Currently, cemeteries remain overflowing and there are still random bodies reported to be piled up in various parts of Port-au-Prince.

(PORT-AU-PRINCE/SALEM) - Thirteen days following a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti, tens of thousands of bodies remain buried beneath the rubble and in mass graves around the capital Port-au-Prince.