More than two weeks after the devastating earthquake that hit southern Haiti, access to basic necessities is still not assured and among the damage, many churches are destroyed or badly damaged.

"So far we have not received any tents. People are sleeping on the ground. There is no water, no electricity, no food, no clothes," declared Cardinal Chibly Langlois, Bishop of the diocese of Les Cayes adding "By a miracle, we came out unscathed, but many people lost their lives, including Father Jacques Percy, a retired priest".

According to a first partial assessment, the diocese of Les Cayes has so far recorded 682 dead, 2,175 injured, around 11,500 houses damaged and 111 churches destroyed. "The bishop's house has collapsed and everything is in ruins," explains Rafael d'Aqui of Aid to the Church in Need (AED) from Latin America, delegate responsible for Haiti, who underlines the need to provide the diocese with a new base and to equip it to coordinate aid to the population in these difficult times.

It is also necessary to give a roof to the bishop and his closest collaborators, because they have lost everything.

In the Diocese of Jérémie 26 churches suffered significant damage, including Saint-Louis Cathedral, while 11 collapsed. The ACN is initially focused on an emergency project to help 45 families. "People are too scared to go home. We must provide food, clothing, water, medicine and temporary shelter to these people" declared Father Jean-Jacques Saint-Louis, Provincial Superior of the Montfortian Fathers in Haiti, who asks ACN to pray "In these difficult times for our country, prayer must occupy a special place," concludes Father Saint-Louis

HL/ HaitiLibre