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.

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.

In the 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 the small town of Vye Terre near Les Cayes, where a group of men was seen pulling large sacks from a half-opened container truck.

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

Their desperation increased on Friday, the first time people were seen actively taking goods before they were set to be distributed.

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

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

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

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

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

IMAGE: AP