5,500 disabled people affected by the earthquake
The number of people with disabilities who were affected by the earthquake of August 14, 2021 in the departments of South and Grand ‘Anse stands at around 5,500, according to the latest Civil Protection report. Of this number with needs for drinking water, food, tarpaulins and sanitary protection material, such as mufflers, and medicine, there are 2,150 women and 445 elderly people. The Office of the Secretary of State for the Integration of People with Disabilities recommends targeting this category of the population through massive humanitarian aid.
Challenges related to the next school year
At a press conference on Thursday, September 2, in Port-au-Prince, the government announced the postponement of the start of the school year, initially scheduled for September 6, to September 21 in the departments not affected by the earthquake and to October 4 in those who were severely affected by the deadly and devastating earthquake of August 14. Every year, back to school is a real headache for the poorest families. This year, it is even more so. The magnitude 7.2 earthquake of August 14, 2021 devastated several schools in the most affected regions.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry is aware of the challenges. ” We have a lot of work. We must remove the rubble and put structures to accommodate children in schools destroyed by the earthquake, ”announced the head of government. In addition, the tenant of the Prime Minister announced that arrangements will be made to pay allowances to parents of students and teachers because of the difficult socio-political and economic environment. He says he wants all students in areas devastated by the earthquake to be able to return to school during the next school year.
After the earthquake of August 14, the challenges to be met in the departments of Nippes, South and Grand-Anse are legion and sizeable. Besides completely or partially destroyed schools, there are parents who lost everything in this disaster. They are currently unable to finance their children’s education without help from the state or other Good Samaritans.
In the capital, no school has collapsed, but the challenges are no less. The socioeconomic conditions of households are deteriorating. The cost is getting so high that even heads of households who have a job find it difficult to make ends meet. Administration employees who should be privileged do not always receive their wages on time. This is mainly due to the low level of state revenue, according to some officials. At this rate, one wonders where the government will find the resources to pay allowances to parents and teachers.
On the other hand, a good part of the capital escapes the control of the police authorities. It is the armed gangs that rule in these areas. They can when they want to ban traffic, the operation of schools, banks, churches, public markets, etc. These armed men create an unprecedented climate of insecurity. They spread terror, panic and they kill with impunity.
