The Ministry of Environment (MDE) expresses its solidarity and gives its full support to the population, particularly the five departments affected by the passage of hurricane IRMA of category 5 in Haiti from 7 to 8 September 2017.

Since the pre-alert phase, the Ministry is on the side of Civil Protection and continues to act on the ground with the population to prevent risks and to provide an adequate response to the damage caused by IRMA.

The Ministry, in terms of prevention during the hurricane season, carried out work to treat watersheds in Cap-Haïtien (Zétrier), including the construction of two sediment and rainwater retention basins. In conjunction with Public Works, it also cleaned the streets and sewers of which more than 14,000 cubic meters of rubbish and waste have been removed.

In addition, during the Hurricane IRMA warning phase, an Ad Hoc emergency committee of the Ministry was reactivated, where central managers, departmental directors and environmental agents were mobilized, with a view to active participation Ministry. The Committee is also responsible for the collection and monitoring of information and the mobilization of the necessary material and financial resources.

In the same spirit, some 100 environmental agents have been pre-positioned in the far north to accompany the Government in the implementation of the pre and post IRMA emergency plan.

Following the data collected by its various departmental divisions, the Ministry of the Environment prepares its report on the environmental damage recorded during the passage of Irma.

HL/ HaitiLibre