Hurricane Matthew has taken Jesus-la\u2019s home, her animals, and her crops.<\/p>\n
These are devastating blows for this 21-year-old mother.<\/p>\n
Jesus-la lives in Torbeck, a small community in the Les Cayes area of southern Haiti with her four-year-old son and his father.<\/p>\n
Their home and their livelihood were destroyed when Hurricane Matthew\u2019s vicious winds and rains swept across the island.\u00a0 They rent approximately three acres where they grow corn, bananas, and sweet potatoes.\u00a0 Their entire income came from selling these crops in the market.\u00a0 They have no savings to start over.<\/p>\n
Jesus-la heard that a shelter had been opened at the local school.\u00a0 She had no other place to live so she and her family are staying at the shelter until the local community leaders decide where she can go.<\/p>\n
She and up to a few hundred others who have also lost their homes do not have any certainty in their lives.\u00a0 They are sleeping on tables, mattresses on the floor, and the floor itself.<\/p>\n
The school\u2019s water system had been broken even before Hurricane Matthew hit.\u00a0 Yet another result of the poverty that defines most of Haiti.\u00a0 Now they must buy water when they can.\u00a0 She used to purchase a large bag of smaller drinking sachets, but now she can only afford to purchase three at a time.<\/p>\n
There are no latrines at the school.\u00a0 All who have taken shelter there are using open fields as their toilet.<\/p>\n
Before the storm, she and her family ate two meals a day.\u00a0 On the day before our visit, she had only eaten one meal.\u00a0 It was a bit of spaghetti that some friends had bought for her.<\/p>\n
She is now experiencing hunger pains.<\/p>\n
\u2018We are going through a difficult time.\u00a0 We would appreciate any help we can get.\u2019<\/p>\n
![\"imgl1746\"](\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/IMGL1746-1024x683.jpg\")
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Fontus, 29, Roche a Bateau <\/strong><\/p>\n Fontus struggles to share his story of the night the hurricane struck. He has no words to describe the tragedy. He says he was more than scared, and didn\u2019t sleep that night. He felt the power of the wind against the windows. He couldn\u2019t think past the next few hours. When the wind started he tried to secure the roof on the house he shares with his mother, sister, nephew and cousin, but in the end he had to leave it. The roof was destroyed. He and his family are worried about food.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause everything is destroyed, hunger will come no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n Marte, 48, Roche a Bateau<\/strong><\/p>\n Marte is a second grade teacher in Roche a Bateau, where she has always lived. She said this is the first time they have seen such a storm. She describes the hurricane as \u201clike a day of death\u201d. They were waiting for death to come \u2013 she saw death coming. Marte, her husband, and two children survived. But now she is worried about food, especially after the destruction of the crops. She said that everyone has lost everything, and she doesn\u2019t know if the community will ever recover.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe in 50 years,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cRight now we have no hope.\u201d<\/p>\n Como \u00e9 que a ADRA est\u00e1 a ajudar?<\/strong><\/p>\n In partnership with GlobalMedic, ADRA is putting a strong focus on providing access to water that is safe for drinking and preventing the spread of cholera and other diseases.<\/p>\n![\"fontus-cherley_jpg\"](\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Fontus-Cherley_JPG.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"marte-haiti\"](\"https:\/\/adra.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/10\/Marte-Haiti-683x1024.jpeg\")
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