TodaysNetworkNews: HAITI: NATIONAL DAY of MOURNING (U.N. MINUSTAH)

TodaysNetworkNews: 12 February 2010 - UN MINUSTAH: Port-au-Prince, Haiti - Three days of mourning began today, one month following a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince.
Emotions ran high for the nearly 200 Haitians gathered around their tents for an evangelical mass where they now live and pray for the victims.
SOUNDBITE (Creole) Obas Cantave, worshipper:
This morning is a big day for all of us. For all of those who announce the three day mourning. One month ago today the earthquake happened. We thought it was just to thank Jesus and his father.
Hundreds of Haitians, religious leaders, government and United Nations (UN) officials and staff gathered in silence to pray for the dead near the National Palace. Haitis President, Rene Preval along with his wife, called upon the Haitian people to gather strength and begin to rebuild their country.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Rene Preval, President, Republic of Haiti:
Haitian woman and men, there is much pain that we cant express it. Lets dry our eyes and rebuild our country. You suffering people, your courage is a proof that Haiti will not die.
The international community mourned for Haitians and for their own dead colleagues. Edmond Mulet, who replaced the head of the UN mission (MINUSTAH) Hedi Annabi who perished in the quake, said they have no option, but to be hopeful.
SOUNDBITE (English) Edmond Mulet, United Nation Special Representative of Secretary General for Haiti:
We have no option, we have to be optimistic. If this shake up was not enough to make the international community be more committed to Haiti, then I dont know what will. And I hope also that this will put the Haitians to the level they have to be, and I can see that its already happening

Leaders of Haiti's two official religions, a Catholic bishop and the head of the Voodoo priests, joined with ministers from Protestant denominations for a prayer service.

On this day survivors of the earthquake all had different stories from this one dramatic event that may change their lives forever.

VOX POP (Creole) Martine, survivor:
When he arrived we were sitting. I was cooking. I saw him running away. I was chasing him. While I was running I turn around and saw the house coming down with the owner inside.

VOX POP (Creole) Constant Jean Nahum, survivor:
Twelve January took all my dreams away. I am in the fourth class of university. I had many projects for 2010, 2011, 2012. My fiancée was supposed to come in 2011. We had many common projects and suddenly I feel knocked out.

VOX POP (Creole) Abbe Ernst, survivor:
As the Bible said, man is like a flower which flourishes in the morning and vanishes in the evening. I could see the truth of it, because I was talking to people one hour before the earthquake. They all died in the street.
It is estimated that more than 200,000 died, 1.2 million people were left homeless by the earthquake, and about 400,000 people have migrated out of Port-au-Prince into homes in cities outside the capital. ................................................................................­.... (UNITED NATIONS STABILIZATION MISSION FOR HAITI: MINUSTAH ) ................................................................................­....TodaysNetworkNews:
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