In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, Red Cross helps

Elmita Nodeis in front of the evacuation centre
Elmita Nodeis has been sleeping in the evacuation centre with eight members of her family ever since Hurricane Matthew destroyed her home.
Twenty-two year old Yvette Smith is also staying at the centre with her grandmother
Twenty-two year old Yvette Smith is also staying at the centre. There are no mattresses, everyone, including Smith's 83-year-old grandmother, sleep on the concrete floor.
Pauline Divert, 41, and her five children, have been staying in a shelter
Pauline Divert, 41, and her five children, have been staying in a shelter since the hurricane hit. She lives right on the coast and says that all the houses where she lives have been destroyed. Her husband's fishing boat was also destroyed.
Thérèse Ulysse, 60, has been staying with a friend in the town of Les Cayes
Thérèse Ulysse, 60, has been staying with a friend in the town of Les Cayes since Hurricane Matthew hit. She's from the neighbourhood of La Savane, right along the coast. She was able to get out just in time with her son during the hurricane.
Marie-Jacqueline Émile, 65, has been staying at Philippe Guerrier school in Les Cayes
Marie-Jacqueline Émile, 65, has been staying at Philippe Guerrier school in Les Cayes since Hurricane Matthew hit. "When the hurricane hit, I took my whole family and we left and came here."
Yvette Ismeth and her four children have been staying at the Philippe Guerrier school
Yvette Ismeth and her four children have been staying at the Philippe Guerrier school in Les Cayes which was turned into an evacuation centre after Hurricane Matthew hit. About 200 families are staying there.
Providing food, water and relief items
In the coming days and weeks, more people will continue to receive the food, water and relief items they need to support them as they recover.

Nicole Robicheau is a Canadian aid worker currently deployed in Haiti with the IFRC in response to Hurricane Matthew

Elmita Nodeis sits on the ground in the courtyard of Philippe Guerrier school in the town of Les Cayes in Haiti. The school's been turned into an evacuation centre since Hurricane Matthew hit, and she's been sleeping there with eight members of her family ever since.  The 51-year-old has a few buckets in front of her, and she's busy scrubbing clothes. 

"My home has been destroyed, and I haven't eaten since yesterday, so I started washing people's clothes that live around here for a bit of money," says Nodeis. 

Nodeis was in her home when the hurricane hit.

"I was sleeping and dreaming about someone telling me come quick, come quick, and then I woke up and my house was being destroyed, so I ran out," says Noedis.

Twenty-two year old Yvette Smith is also staying at the centre. She and about 19 other families share one of the classrooms.

"Our house was destroyed and we lost all our things. The Red Cross came to get us and brought us here," says Smith.

There are no mattresses at the school, so everyone, including Smith's 83-year-old grandmother, sleep on the concrete floor. Her grandmother has been using a cane ever since she was injured in the earthquake in 2010. 

Forty-one year old Pauline Divert wasn't in her home when the hurricane hit thanks to Red Cross volunteers who brought her and her family to the evacuation centre. 

"I went back to see my house and I was devastated when I saw it destroyed," says Divert. "Even my husband's fishing boat is gone."

Yesterday, Red Cross volunteers worked with the World Food Program to register all 200 families living in the centre. Today, they are back to distribute much needed food. Each family receives enough rice, beans and cooking oil to last them just over a month. This is the first food distribution at the evacuation centre. In the coming days and weeks, more people will continue to receive the food, water and relief items they need to support them as they recover. 

"Everyone's a victim in the south department. Everyone's been affected by Matthew," says Yvette Fenelon, Haitian Red Cross president, south west department.

The Red Cross will continue to assess the situation in the coming days, and support people with urgent needs such a food, water and shelter. 

Canadians can help support those affected by Hurricane Matthew here.

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