After hurricane Melissa, Haitians try to rebuild their lives

After experiencing the category 5 hurricane, Hurricane Melissa, Haitians are on the way to rebuilding a place which they once called home.

According to Africa News via AP, on December 13, people gathered around a convenience store in the Haitian town of Petit-Goâve to buy food essentials after receiving cash assistance from the World Food Programme.

Many people have lost families, homes, and everything that is sentimental to them during the hurricane. One of those in line to buy food was a local, Joceline Antoine, who lost five of her family members when the storm swept through the region. “My house is destroyed, the water came in. I lost my animals, I lost my family.” Antoine said.

The hurricane killed at least 43 people in Haiti, and many of those in Petit-Goâve are still digging out from under the storm that released deadly flooding.

It was just recently, on November 15th, that residents in Haiti paid their respects and said farewell to those they lost.

Haiti, just like many other places in the Caribbean, has lost crops, homes, and, according to the World Food Programme, at least 90% of Petit-Goâve fields were washed away. Consequently, a farming community is now in ruins and trying to build its way back up.

Like Haiti, Jamaica was also hit really hard by Hurricane Melissa and 70% of Jamaican households reportedly had no electricity.

In October, at least 19 deaths were recorded in Jamaica due to the hurricane, with many left with no place to stay.

Currently, huge piles of dirt and mud are being used to smooth the area of Petit-Goâve, which were once full of farmers and street vendors.

The regional director of the UN World Food Programme, Lola Castro, recently visited the town and said that Melissa has exacerbated Haiti’s crisis.

“Around 5.3 million people don’t have enough to eat every day in Haiti,” she said, ”that’s a huge challenge.”

“We are currently distributing money to vulnerable people affected by Hurricane Melissa. These individuals receive a voucher, which they use for food.”

Petit-Goâve is an agricultural community that relies massively on crops such as plantain, corn, and beans.  “They lost their income. They have lost their means of living.”  Castro said.

Africa News Via AP, Maghrebi.org