In a message, Michaëlle Jean, the Secretary General of the Francophonie expressed the profound solidarity of the francophone family with the Haitian people, severely affected by the deadly and devastating passing of Hurricane Matthew.

"On behalf of the entire Francophonie and on my own behalf, I wish to express my solidarity to the people of Haiti and particularly to all those who suffered tragic losses. My thoughts are for the bereaved families with my sincere condolences. Again, these are schools, hospitals, civilian infrastructure of the country as a whole that have been damaged. This tragedy only reveals our vulnerability and our fragility, particularly those of Haiti, to climate hazards.

I greet the prevention and awareness measures taken by the Haitian authorities. I know them determined to do everything possible, and with the support of the population, to overcome this new challenge that comes at a crucial moment in the country's political life. La Francophonie remains alongside the Haitian nation in these difficult times.

In response to this emergency situation, I encourage the member States and governments of La Francophonie to mobilize, in the spirit of solidarity that characterizes us, for the affected Haitian population in the cities and in the countryside. Our efforts, that will combine with those of the international community as a whole, should particularly focus on the health front, so that the difficult situation that will prevail in the coming weeks does not favor the feared resurgence of the cholera epidemic."

IH/ iciHaiti