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Haiti braces as Tropical Storm Emily nears Rain hits Haiti as Tropical Storm Emily looms offshore
(about 6 hours later)
Hundreds of thousands of Haitians in makeshift camps are bracing for heavy rain during the day as Tropical Storm Emily swirls near their country. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians in makeshift camps are bracing for heavy downpours as Tropical Storm Emily approaches.
The US National Hurricane Center is warning of flash floods and mudslides. Rain has damaged several hundred homes in the Artibonite region, the civil protection agency head told AP, but so far no deaths have been reported.
Haiti is still struggling to recover from the devastating earthquake in January 2010. Haiti is still struggling to recover from the January 2010 earthquake.
President Michel Martelly took office in May but has so far been unable to form a government, complicating aid and reconstruction efforts. President Michel Martelly took office in May but has not yet managed to form a government, complicating aid efforts.
Tropical Storm Emily has been bringing rain and strong winds to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola.Tropical Storm Emily has been bringing rain and strong winds to the Dominican Republic and Haiti, which share the island of Hispaniola.
At 0900 GMT on Thursday, Emily was 100 miles (160km) south-south-east of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, the National Hurricane Center reported. At 1500 GMT on Thursday, Emily was reported to be nearly stationary 145km (90 mile) south-south-east of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami reported.
While maximum winds were put at 85km/h (50mph), the main threat is from torrential downpours. While maximum winds were put at 85km/h (50mph), the main threat was from torrential downpours.
"This storm has a lot of heavy rainfall with it," meteorologist Diana Goeller told the Associated Press."This storm has a lot of heavy rainfall with it," meteorologist Diana Goeller told the Associated Press.
Forecasters said six to 12 inches (15-30cm) of rain could fall, but with up to 20 inches possible in some regions. Forecasters said 15-30cm (6-12in) of rain could fall, but with up to 20in possible in some regions.
The head of Haiti's civil protection agency, Marie Alta Jean-Baptiste, said rain had damaged buildings in the Artibonite region.
She also said a cholera treatment centre had been damaged in the Central Plateau region.
StalemateStalemate
Haitian officials issued a red alert and urged people to leave camps, many of which are sited on deforested hillsides. Haitian officials had issued a red alert and urged people to leave camps, many of which are sited on deforested hillsides.
"People living in unsafe housing will be the worst affected if flooding hits," Harry Donsbach from charity World Vision told AFP."People living in unsafe housing will be the worst affected if flooding hits," Harry Donsbach from charity World Vision told AFP.
"Landslides are of courses a threat, but even simply heavy rain has the potential to worsen the volatile sanitation conditions in camps, which, with cholera still prevalent in Haiti, is a serious concern.""Landslides are of courses a threat, but even simply heavy rain has the potential to worsen the volatile sanitation conditions in camps, which, with cholera still prevalent in Haiti, is a serious concern."
According to the International Office of Migration, some 634,000 Haitians still live in camps, although other estimates of what is a necessarily fluctuating population put the figure at 375,000.According to the International Office of Migration, some 634,000 Haitians still live in camps, although other estimates of what is a necessarily fluctuating population put the figure at 375,000.
On Tuesday, Haitian lawmakers voted against Mr Martelly's new choice of prime minister, Bernard Gousse, following their rejection in June of his first pick, Daniel-Gerard Rouzier.On Tuesday, Haitian lawmakers voted against Mr Martelly's new choice of prime minister, Bernard Gousse, following their rejection in June of his first pick, Daniel-Gerard Rouzier.
President Martelly needs a prime minister in order to assemble a government that can work with international agencies involved in the task of rebuilding after the 2010 quake.President Martelly needs a prime minister in order to assemble a government that can work with international agencies involved in the task of rebuilding after the 2010 quake.
The lack of an administration is also hampering planning for potential disasters.The lack of an administration is also hampering planning for potential disasters.