Haiti's Water Crisis Spurns Health Concerns

ZHANG:
An update on Haiti's recovery from a barrage of tropical storms and hurricanes. Officials fear a health crisis could erupt in a flood-stricken city which is facing a severe water shortage.

STORY:
Days after tropical storm Hanna ravaged Gonaives, a fresh crisis in this coastal city: drinking water supplies are running dangerously low. Every day residents crowd around aid distribution centers, waiting for hours to fill their empty containers with water.

But bringing aid to this city of 300-thousand has been tough. The tropical storm brought down bridges and roads; the only way to get into the city is by helicopters and boats, making it difficult for residents to find clean water to cook or bathe.

Many families said they collected rain water in buckets or saucepans. Some use the dirty water in the street to wash their belongings.

The high water level has damaged drainage canals, causing sewage to flow into the flood waters, increasing the risk of an epidemic.

All this, as the poorest country in the Americas continues to recover from a recent food shortage that sparked violent protests -- and aid workers fear this latest crisis could trigger another round of violence.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• ntdtv
• news
• Haiti
• Water
• Crisis
• Spurns
• Health
• Concerns
• virus

[alexascre]

wonder what happened!!!!