7.2-magnitude earthquake rocks Haiti

• Update: USAID gives $32m to Haiti, also sends about 163,000 pounds of food aid.

• Update: UN agency launches $15 million appeal for Haiti.
• “The funding will be used to help the Haitian authorities with housing, temporary shelter, mental health support and COVID-19 prevention in the aftermath of the disaster, which left 2,207 dead and more than 12,000 injured, according to official figures. Nearly 53,000 buildings collapsed, while another 77,000 were severely damaged,” it said in a statement.

• Death count: 2,200+ and counting, 10,000+ injured and 34 rescued.

• Update: Over 500,000 children limited or no shelter, food and water – UN

• Death count: 1,400+ and counting.
• Death count: 700+ and counting.
• Death count: 300+ and counting.
• Death count: 250+ and counting.

• Update: Haitian Prime Minister declares state of emergency. To last a month.

• Death count: 29 and counting.

• USAID disaster response experts on ground assessing damage.

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A massive 7.2-magnitude earthquake with a depth of about 6 miles has hit western Haiti. Images of collapsed buildings were shared on social media and officials broke the grave news of countless deaths and people buried alive.

A tsunami threat that was issued for the region has passed but the intensity of the earthquake is a level 9, according to the United States Geological Survey.

Haiti was still recovering from a disastrous earthquake that occurred 10 years ago.

The 2010 earthquake caused over 200,000 deaths and did immense damage to the country’s infrastructure, while also leaving a psychological impact.

Following the July 7 assassination of their President, Haiti’s political atmosphere was already tense and this natural disaster has further dented their economic recovery, Pandemic response and food security efforts.

This disaster might give fuel to the political turmoil that had already swallowed the country.

The government is still collecting information on the damage and number of casualties, and Haiti is expected to be hit with Tropical Storm Grace, that is due on Monday.

The political unrest mixed with this disastrous earthquake will create a major humanitarian crisis and the rescue and relief efforts will be compromised by the arrival of Tropical Storm Grace.