Haiti - earthquake aftermath

Haiti raises death toll to 230,000

Article published on the 2010-02-10 Latest update 2010-02-10 13:15 TU

Earthquake survivor Evans Monsigrace, 28, lies on a stretcher inside a University of Miami field hospital in Port-au-Prince
(Credit: Reuters)

Haiti's government has raised the death toll for the 12 January earthquake to 230,000 from 212,000 and says more bodies remain uncounted. Nearly a month after the disaster struck, hundreds of thousands of people are still waiting for basic aid. The UN says 1.2 million people are living in makeshift camps, while 272,000 others are in some form of emergency shelters.

In the capital Port-au-Prince, rescuers have abandoned their search for people in a supermarket that partially collapsed in the initial quake. People had been searching for food in the store when it collapsed again yesterday as rescuers were taking out bodies when it happened.

Survivors were dealt a new blow after the World Health Organisation stopped giving drugs to non-governmental organisations and private clinics. The WHO decided to halt distribution after there were reports of people being charged.

The UN has also suspended food distribution to 10,000 people after it discovered fake coupons were being used.

But miracles do occur. Evans Monsigrace, a 28-year-old, seemingly survived 27 days under the rubble. He had been cooking rice when the quake shook the capital. Doctors treating him say he suffered weight loss and dehydration but is in good health overall.

Unasur, the Union of South American Nations, has pledged 217 million euros to their neighbors.

And in a new development in the case of the ten Americans charged with kidnapping Haitian children, the group's lawyer said that some parents had given their blessing to let them take their children.

Two of the parents of the children living in an orphanage went before a judge to testify on their behalf.

"They told the judge that they gave the Americans an authorisation," said Aviol Fleurant, the group's lawyer.

Fleurant identified the parents as Chesnel Regilus and Desilian Moletite Fenelun.

Fleurant is the group's new lawyer after their previous lawyer, Edwin Coq, was accused of trying to bribe the judge. Before the case hit the headlines, aid groups told RFI they were worried that fast-track adoptions could lead to serious problems.