Tens of thousands of Haitians have been affected by floods, landslides and strong winds following the passage of Isaac on the Caribbean country on the night of Friday 24 to Saturday, August 25, 2012

Andrew Pugh, the Country Director of Oxfam, declared "The most affected areas are the east and south-east of the country, but we recorded damage everywhere across the country. Isaac has not made major damage as we fear Friday night, but increased the suffering of the most vulnerable."

The international agency continues to evaluate on the ground, the needs in different areas of the country with the aim to give an adequate response to the needs of those affected while supporting the efforts of the Haitian government. Oxfam also plans to coordinate in many areas, a campaign to reduce the risk of new outbreaks of cholera.

Yolette Etienne, Oxfam Program Director, explained "We are concerned that the people, who do not have access to drinking water, draw their water from contaminated rivers. We also see people still residing in homes with water at waist. If measures are not taken now, including drinking water, latrines, and health promotion, the impact of this storm could be fatal."

Many of those who were affected by the storm are among the some 400,000 people displaced still living under tents, in hundreds of camps.

Maurepas Vincent Jeudy, the Program Director of Oxfam, declared "If you live in a tent, it is enough to a gust of wind to take it. Many people who had very little, have again lost everything. Now they have basic needs such as soap, toothbrushes, sheets and blankets, but what they really want is a permanent solution instead of fragile tents [...]"

HL/ HaitiLibre