Improved Seeds

Tree Crops
Mango
Avocado
Citrus
Bamboo
Grafting

Vegetable & Tuber Crops
Tissue Culture
and Minisetting

Economic Gains

Nutritional Benefits

Agricultural Education

Protection of the Environment

TORRENTIAL FLOODING SWEEPS AWAY A BRIDGE KILLING 16 PERSONS
AS HURRICANE DENNIS PASSED OVER HAITI...

Torrential floods destroyed the bridge on the main highway between Port-au-Prince and the southern peninsula on July 7th 2005. The sediment has been constantly rising in this river, rushing down from the eroding slopes of the watershed, dislodged by continuous rains. On August 22nd the bridge at Léogane partially collapsed, a gaping hole appeared spanning half its width, effectively cutting off the main highway to the South. The degradation of the environment, with the denuded slopes will continue to cause disasters, destroying valuable agricultural land (and the income it generates), as well as roads, bridges and homes. The solution starts upstream and requires urgent and long-term measures. The human and economic consequences are too great to contemplate…
The sediment has been constantly rising in this river from the continuing rains. On August 22nd the bridge at Léogane finally collapsed, effectively cutting off the main highway to the South.		The road between Grande Goave and Miragoane has become so flooded that it is beginning to look like a flash-back to the 1970s when the road was so bad it took 12 hours to get from Port-au-Prince to Cayes.

As the population recovers, there are many fears for the future of the national highway from Port-au-Prince to the major cities of the South. This road is currently the only means of transportation for fuel, agricultural produce and other essential items to and from the capital. It will require a concerted effort by the Public Works and the friends of Haiti to re-establish normal conditions to this part of the country and avoid a major economic crisis for an already decapitalized, impoverished population.

Information about Hurricanes in Haiti since 1950
Apart from Hurricane Dennis, the following is some information about the major hurricanes that have affected Haiti since 1950. It should be noted that damage is caused by two factors, wind and flooding. Some hurricanes cause little wind damage, but extensive destruction from flooding, and vice-versa. The south of Haiti, where ORE is based, is particularly vulnerable to hurricanes:

Hurricane Name	Date	Wind	Deaths	Damage
Lili	27-29 Sep, 2002	145 mph	4	Severe flooding and loss of life
Georges	Sep 22, 1998	120 mph	150 - 500	Severe flooding and loss of life in Haiti
Emily	Sep 22, 1987	120 mph	n.a.	Damage in Haiti
Allen	Aug 5, 1980	140-160 mph	220	$400 million of damage, principally in the south of Haiti
Inez	Sep 29, 1966	140 mph	750	$20 million of damage in Haiti
Cleo	Aug 24, 1964	150 mph	192	$17 million of damage, principally in the south of Haiti
Flora	Oct 3, 1963	145-180 mph	5,000	Extensive damage in the south of Haiti
Ella	Sep 1, 1958	110 mph	30	Damage in the south of Haiti
Hazel	Oct 11, 1954	120-125 mph	400-1,000	Extensive damage in the south of Haiti

VIEW THE DAMAGE TO THE NATIONAL ROAD
CAUSED BY HURRICANE DENNIS AND SUBSEQUENT RAINS!
Click here to download a photographic report showing the extensive damage to the main southern highway road and the danger from future flooding. English (PDF file), or French (PDF file).