In a message, the former Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, sends his words of sympathy to the victims of Hurricane Matthew :

"I am deeply touched by the plight of victims of the hurricane Matthew that ravaged the southern peninsula and other parts of Haiti. The poignant images of affected areas show the desolation in which are plunged thousands of families devoid of all. The partial assessment reports hundreds of deaths and extensive material damage.

While calling for the solidarity of everyone to relieve the pain of the victims, I invite the government and local authorities to assume fully their responsibilities to help in extreme emergency-affected populations in the different affected departments.

In these difficult times, I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the many victims of these storms and requests the support of the Haitian diaspora and those who love Haiti from the depths of their heart to allow victims to receive adequate support to get through this event with dignity.

I welcome the spontaneous support of the friendly countries of Haiti and particularly those in the region who did not wait for the people's cry to show their noble solidarity with Haiti after the passage of Matthew.

I further calls for the unity of the Haitian family to meet the challenges of reconstruction of these regions apparently insurmountable, but that will be ultimately confronted by a united and supportive community."

IH/ iciHaiti