Relief agencies were still struggling Tuesday to get aid to the tens of thousands of Haitian victims of tropical storm Jeanne, which hit the Caribbean island last week.

The estimated death toll from flooding and mudslides had risen to 2,400 from 1,500, most in the city of Gonaives, where aid workers continued to face desperate crowds clamouring for, and sometimes attempting to loot, emergency supplies.

Food distribution efforts were mired in chaos as gangs roamed the streets of Gonaives. According to reports, UN security forces – now reinforced to 700 troops – were finding it near impossible to provide adequate security around distribution centres as armed thugs took to robbing people of their food on their way home from the centres.

Body bags on the streets of Gonaives (CBC photo: Stephen Puddicombe)
Body bags on the streets of Gonaives (CBC photo: Stephen Puddicombe)

Observers said there were also too few distribution centres to supply the devastated city, where bodybags were piling in the streets, with food. It is believed that Jeanne may have left more than 300,000 people homeless.

As flooding and other acute effects of the storm abated somewhat, relief agencies were also concerned with halting the spread of public diseases. Illnesses caused mainly by poor water quality were starting to appear in the country's northwest.

UN forces guard the distribution of food. (CBC photo: Stephen Puddicombe)
UN forces guard the distribution of food. (CBC photo: Stephen Puddicombe)

Pettigrew promises long-term Canadian engagement in Haiti

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew set out Tuesday afternoon from Montreal for the Caribbean island, to survey the damage caused by Jeanne.

Before leaving he said he was going to "open dialogue" with the Haitian government and with non-governmental aid agencies during the course of his two-day visit. He was scheduled to both fly over Gonaives and visit the city.

Canada has announced about $3.25 million in immediate food and medical aid, as well as provisional shelters, to Haiti, and is considering what further steps to take to help the country. Two Hercules planes laden with aid would take off from Trudeau airport later Tuesday, or "certainly tomorrow," Pettigrew said.

"Canada's engagement with Haiti won't be one of a few days only," Pettigrew said, promising long-term assistance to the country, which is one of the poorest and politically most unstable nations in the Western hemisphere.

Ottawa last year already pledged $150 million over several years to Haiti, as part of a "reconstruction and development" program.

Montreal, Quebec provide aid

Montreal, home to Canada's largest Haitian community, has also rallied to help Haiti.

A fundraising drive that ended Tuesday raised $312,000, while the Quebec Red Cross collected $370,000. The provincial government has already donated $200,000 and said it might give more.

In addition, ten Sûreté du Québec officers are due to leave on Oct. 9 for Haiti to help local police forces. They will join approximately 15 other SQ officers, as well as dozens of other officers from different forces across the province.

Haiti has endured a bloody change in government and two deadly floods in 2004.