Haiti earthquake: Death toll rises to 2000, over 9,900 injured

About 2,000 people have died from the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that hit Haiti on Saturday.

According to the United Nations, the number of those injured has already surpassed 9,900 while the search for survivors have been hindered by heavy rains caused by tropical storm Grace.

It said the hospitals are already overwhelmed while calling for more support for victims.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said at least, 1.2 million people, including 540,000 children, have been affected by the earthquake and about half a million Haitian children were presently facing limited or no access to shelter, safe water, healthcare and nutrition.

The agency said efforts are ongoing to distribute tarpaulins for emergency shelters; latrines and showers and safe water, adding that an estimate of $15 million will be needed to respond to the most urgent needs of at least 385,000 people, including 167,000 children, under the age of five, for a period of eight weeks.

According to the agency, a preliminary assessment conducted in South Department – one of the three hardest hit regions — showed 94 of the 255 schools have either sustained damages or been completely destroyed.

This comes at a time schools have been shut owing to the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability in the country.

“Haiti’s children need solidarity and support,” said Bruno Maes, UNICEF’s representative in Haiti, said.

“Parents and teachers who have lost everything will also need support.

“It will be extremely difficult for parents, teachers and the Government to get children safely back to school just three weeks from now.

“Putting children back in classrooms is perhaps the best way to make sure they and their families and communities can recover.

“We will need resources to rebuild some schools, rehabilitate others, equip classes with desks, teachers and students with pedagogical and school kits.”

The Saturday earthquake is the first major incident of its kind in over 10 years.

In 2010, an earthquake in the Caribbean country led to the death of at least 200,000 people.