Lack of food, water as Haiti toll at 1,941
LES CAYES, HAITI: Haitians left homeless by a devastating earthquake that killed at least 1,941 people voiced anger over a lack of government aid as they spent a fourth night in the open on Wednesday, many without clean water and food.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who flew to visit the worst-affected town of Les Cayes in southwest Haiti soon after Saturday’s quake of magnitude 7.2, had praised the dignity shown by survivors and promised a rapid escalation of aid.
But by late on Tuesday, as storm clouds threatened a second night of heavy rain, residents of a mushrooming tent city in Les Cayes said help was scant.
“No one from the government has come here. Nothing has been done,” said Roosevelt Milford, a pastor who had visited radio and television stations in the area, pleading for airtime. “We need help,” Milford said in a simple message delivered over the airwaves on behalf of the hundreds camping out in soggy fields since the quake destroyed their homes.
In some positive news, authorities said 16 people were pulled from the wreckage on Tuesday, though as time passes, hopes for survivors dim.
The UN said it had allocated $8 million in emergency relief funds. Latin American countries such as Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela sent food, medicine and supplies, while the United States also dispatched supplies and search and rescue teams.
Toll from Myanmar junta crackdown passes 1,000: Group
BANGKOK: Myanmar’s security forces have killed more than 1,000 civilians since the military ousted Aung San Suu Kyi from power six months ago, an advocacy group said on Wednesday. The country has been in turmoil since February 1, when the armed forces seized power in a lightning coup, triggering dissent as protesters demanded a return to democracy. Activist group Assistance Association for Political Prisoners said the number of people killed by security forces when responding to protests has now reached 1,001.
HK: 4 student union members held for advocating terrorism
HONG KONG: Members of a Hong Kong university student union were arrested on Wednesday for allegedly advocating terrorism by paying tribute to a person who stabbed an officer and then killed himself. Police arrested four men between 18 and 20 years old who were committee members and members of the student council at the University of Hong Kong, said Li Kwaiwah, senior superintendent of the police national security division. He said the arrests were in relation to a council meeting that “promoted terrorism”.