Published 17:34 IST, August 21st 2021

Aid stolen in areas affected by quake in Haiti

Hungry and homeless Haitians crowded relief trucks on Friday and some stole desperately needed goods from the vehicles, according to officials and Associated Press journalists who witnessed the events.

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IMAGE: AP | Image: self
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Hungry and homeless Haitians crowded relief trucks on Friday and some stole desperately needed goods from vehicles, according to officials and Associated Press journalists who witnessed events.

Many have been sleeping outside since a 7.2 earthquake hit Haiti on August 14, killing nearly 2,200 people, injuring more than 12,000 and destroying or damaging more than 100,000 homes.

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In small port city of Les Cayes, people were seen fighting and stealing food that was slated for distribution from a truck parked outside a police station.

Similar events appeared to take place in small town of Vye Terre near Les Cayes, where a group of men was seen pulling large sacks from a half-opened container truck.

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frustration over pace of aid distribution has been rising for days and has been illustrated by growing number of people garing at aid distribution sites.

ir desperation increased on Friday, first time people were seen actively taking goods before y were set to be distributed.

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Distribution routes for some of bly damaged areas are limited to boat or plane.

quake wiped out many of sources of food and income that poor depend on for survival in Haiti, which is alrey struggling with coronavirus, gang violence and July 7 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse.

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Most of devastation happened in Haiti's alrey impoverished southwestern region.

Pressure for a coordinated response to Haiti's dely weekend earthquake mounted this week as more bodies were pulled from rubble and injured continued to arrive from remote areas in search of medical care.

International aid workers on ground said hospitals in areas worst hit by quake are mostly incapacitated and that re is a desperate need for medical equipment.

IMAGE: AP

17:34 IST, August 21st 2021