Rain hits Haiti as Tropical Storm Tomas approaches
Baku, November 5 (AZERTAC). Heavy rain has started to fall in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince as a powerful storm approaches, threatening earthquake survivors living in camps.
The government has urged the 1.3 million people living in tented homes to find sturdier shelter, but most have stayed, saying they have nowhere to go.
Forecasters say Tropical Storm Tomas is gaining strength and warn of the danger of flooding and mudslides.
Health workers fear heavy rain will exacerbate Haiti`s cholera epidemic.
The outbreak of the water-borne disease - which has so far killed more than 400 people and infected more than 6,700 in Haiti - has not seriously affected the capital, but aid agencies say flooding could change that.
Haitian President Rene Preval went on national radio on Thursday to urge people to take precautions and evacuate the camps.
"Protect your lives," he said, before acknowledging that the authorities did not "have enough places [on buses] to move everyone".
Few refugees have heeded the government warning, although mothers and babies have been evacuated from an exposed camp near the mountains.
Stefano Zannini, Medecins Sans Frontieres` head of mission in Haiti, described the situation as "precarious" and said destruction of tents would cause a new wave of homelessness.
He said the atmosphere in the camps was "a mixture of fear and desperation - or resignation".
"It is the third big problem people here have had to deal with this year," he said.
Other news in this section
