Hurricane Adds to Haiti's Suffering

Flooding after Hurricane Tomas, a growing infectious disease epidemic and sluggish progress in rebuilding after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake — Haiti has suffered in almost every way anticipated this year with the exception of widespread social unrest. And some fear that might be next. 

Early this month, Hurricane Tomas caused heavy rain, flooding and at least two dozen deaths in various parts of Haiti, including a river of water in downtown Leogane, the city outside of Port-au-Prince at the earthquake’s epicenter. The watery mess across the island nation in cities such as Les Cayes, Jacmel and Gonaives added misery to the estimated 1.3 million people living day to day in temporary shelters and tent cities in and around the Haitian capital. It also caused hardship on small farmers who watched their crops wash away.