Mr Pierre, after the earthquake on Saturday, a storm bottom hit the disaster area on Monday.

How has that affected the situation?

Tjerk Brühwiller

Correspondent for Latin America based in São Paulo.

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We have serious problems accommodating the people who have lost their homes in the earthquake.

The situation is confusing and chaotic.

People are exposed to the rain.

There were also some faint aftershocks.

Many continue to hesitate to return to the buildings that are still intact.

What happened on the Saturday after the quake in Les Cayes?

In the first few hours there was enormous despair and a feeling of helplessness.

Families with children were looking for support and screaming could be heard in the streets.

There was rubble everywhere.

The hospitals themselves were also damaged.

I'm not just talking about Les Cayes, but the entire affected region in southern Haiti.

We know earthquakes in Haiti, especially after the 2010 earthquake. But the south was never badly affected.

That was new for the population there.

How did the help start?

The situation is very complex.

Initially there were significant problems in reaching the area, mainly due to the security situation on some of the communication routes that are controlled by gangs.

The authorities and various organizations have managed to negotiate the establishment of a humanitarian corridor.

The first auxiliary troops from the capital Port-au-Prince did not arrive until Sunday evening.

Assessment is still difficult as some areas are still inaccessible and the rain has made the situation even more difficult.

Meanwhile, with the help of the authorities, foreign governments and international organizations, the seriously injured are being transferred to other hospitals outside the disaster area.

What about the supply situation?

The water supply completely collapsed due to the earthquake.

There is a lack of water and drinking water, and there is a lack of food and medicines.

And, above all, there is a lack of tents and camp beds to accommodate the people.

In some towns in the region no help at all has yet arrived.

The authorities were not prepared for such a disaster.

Any kind of help is now urgently needed.

The shortage is extraordinary.

You hear a lot about Les Cayes.

But what about the other towns in the region?

At the moment, all forces are pooling in Les Cayes.

The situation is precarious, but we have enormous difficulties in more remote areas.

Aid cannot be limited to the urban centers.

In some peripheral districts in particular, the destruction caused by the earthquake is terrifying.

All available forces must now be divided in the region.

Does Haiti even have the capacity to respond to such a catastrophe?

No.

Haiti alone cannot respond adequately to this situation.

The Haitian government needs international help to increase its civil protection capabilities.

Civil defense does an extraordinary job.

But there is a lack of logistical capacity to maintain aid and continue the rescue work.

The healthcare system needs to get back on its feet.

Not to mention medium-term tasks like schooling.

Most of the schools in the region have been destroyed.

It takes space and professionals.

Haiti can only do this with international partners.

What was the state of the region before the earthquake?

The economic situation across the country has been very difficult for several years.

The south also suffered from the consequences of the disaster in the wake of Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The situation of the population has not improved since then.

The majority are still very vulnerable.

The country urgently needs more stability.

How do you assess the mood in the population after the earthquake?

The population is restless and has lost confidence.

The humanitarian organizations, but also the government, now have a great responsibility to rebuild this trust.

We are doing everything we can to help the Haitian people who are in a desperate situation.

You were 25 years old when a devastating earthquake in 2010 killed more than 200,000 people.

How did this disaster change your life?

I was then in the capital, Port-au-Prince, crawling out of a damaged house. That made me aware of the risk of natural disasters and also piqued my curiosity. I wanted to know how I can protect myself and others from these risks. And finally, it also determined my professional career. I want to use my experience to help others. The 2010 earthquake was perhaps one of the most important experiences of my life. Since then I have seen life differently.