Caribbean/US

France doubles Haiti aid, as Ike heads for US

Article published on the 2008-09-09 Latest update 2008-09-17 09:09 TU

UN soldiers help Haitians cross a flooded river
(Photo: Reuters)

French Secretary of State for Co-operation Alain Joyandet announced that France will double its aid to Haiti in 2008 to four million euros and that the European Union will provide an extra two payments of two million euros each. Hurricane Ike, coming after Hurricane Gustav, killed 66 people in Haiti, hit Cuba on Monday and Tuesday and will soon hit the US.

"France cannot abandon Haiti after it has been hit by this series of catastrophes," Joyandet said on a visit to Port-au-Prince on Monday evening. He met Prime Minister Michèle Pierre-Louis and President René Preval, who estimated that the storm damage has put back the country five years.

Joyandet, who was in the worst-hit area, Gonaïves, on Tuesday, said that the EU may find more money for Haiti, which UN officials say needs 100 million euros.

Waves hit Florida, ahead of Ike's arrival in the US
(Photo: Reuters)

Hurrican-force winds lashed Cuba for the second day running on Tuesday, and hit the crowded capital Havana.

Four people died on the island, a rare event because of usually efficient hurricane preparations, and about two million of the 11 million population were forced to leave their homes.

"In all of Cuba's history, we have never had two hurricanes this close together," Cuban weather service boss José Rubiera said on state television.

It is expected to pick up strength over the Gulf of Mexico, where most US oil refineries are situated, as it heads towards the US.

Anglo-Dutch oil company Shell has evacuated 150 workers and says it will move the remaining 500 by Wednesday.