The Face of Adversity in aftermath of Hurricane Matthew

NEW YORK - Oct. 18, 2016 - PRLog -- Two weeks removed from the wrath of Hurricane Matthew, Haiti finds itself once again picking up the pieces. The Category 5 storm left a trail of destruction from the Caribbean's to the eastern seaboard of the United States. Haiti caught the most dangerous surge of the storm with winds registering at 145 mph at the point of contact, making it the strongest storm in the region since Hurricane Cleo in 1964. Projected to make landfall as a category 3; the storm intensified and was later upgraded to a Category 5 by the time it made landfall on Les Anglais on October 4th. The Interim President of Haiti, Jocelerme Privert issued the order to evacuate for all citizens living on the coast. Despite the urgency and pleas for citizens to move to inland shelters, many ignored the governments' advice and chose not to leave their homes.

Heavy rains and wind plummeted the region, leaving over $1 billion in damage, and nearly 1,000 fatalities in its wake. Over 1.5 million people in Haiti are homeless and in need of aid as a result of the deadly storm. The western peninsula towns of Jeremie, Port Salut, and Les Cayes were among the villages literally demolished in the storm. In the past few years alone, Haiti has been the victim of many hurricanes, mud slides, flooding, and severe droughts. Nestled in the West Indies neighboring the Dominican Republic, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. A country with deep economic suppression, Haiti ranks 163 of 186 countries, according to the 2016 United Nations Human Development Index. Officials say it could be a decade or more before the southwestern peninsula begin to recover from Hurricane Matthew. Haiti will lose 65-90% of crops for the season, in addition to a 73% of livestock. A country that relies on its farming and fishing as a major resource finds itself with more than 2 million people without food.

The UN constant appeal to the global community for an estimated $119 million has been well received. Foreign aid is pouring from many nations, including the United States, Canada, and the European Union. The basic infrastructure of roads, clean water, and sewage systems were already jeopardized due to the destruction left by a massive earthquake in 2010. Among a lack of infrastructure, is the challenge to distribute aid to areas with no roads or pathways. Many of the Country's main hospitals and clinics were either destroyed or partly non-functional due to the flooding. Vaccinations and life-saving medication are needed in the region. The main threat to the region is cholera: a bacterial disease, usually spread through contaminated water, which leads to a quick painful death if not treated. Under the current conditions, much of western Haiti sits as the perfect breeding ground for the epidemic that is turning up new cases at the rate of a newly diagnosed per minute.

Officials say more than 1.4 million people urgently need humanitarian help or aid. Cargo planes from many nations arrive daily into the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Humanitarian relief groups, along with U.N. agencies has begun the process of aiding thousands of Haitians with life essentials. In the western peninsula city of Jeremie, there has been reports of at least 40,000 without clean drinking water. Food rations, water purification kits, and vaccinations are at the heart of the most needed items. The goal is to provide meaningful aid while supporting the Haitian people.

What YOU can do to help Haiti? #HaitianLivesMatterToo

Wazzup Media Group (http://wazzupmediagroup.com/) Co-Owner and President Dwayne "D-Teck" Grant serves as an advocate in the recording industry to bridge the gap between entertainers and non-profit organizations. As a way to bring awareness to the need for Humanitarian aid in Haiti, D-teck began the #HaitiLivesMatterToo campaign. The campaign is a direct challenge to those in the Entertainment Industry to use their influence to champion aid to the region. Through research models, WMG has begun the conversation to bring solar power, steel, and irrigation systems to the region.

"The #HaitiLivesMatterToo campaign is the least we can do to start a chain reaction of awareness and aid to the impoverished region," states D-Teck.

We understand that the need is enormous! The #HaitianLivesMatterToo has started a movement of athletes and entertainers stepping up. "The goal is to raise 1 million dollars in aid and relief", stated D-Teck.

Donate Today / Haiti Relief Fund

It's an honor to team up with a non-profit organization like Oxfam America (https://www.oxfamamerica.org/) who actually has teams on the ground helping the people of Haiti. Through the campaign #HaitianLivesMatterToo established on Oxfam America website, Wazzup Media Group (http://wazzupmediagroup.com/)  continues to work effortlessly to raise 1 million dollars towards the direct aid of Haiti.

Oxfam America, a leading humanitarian group works with families in over 90 countries have been in Haiti since the day of the storm providing life-saving essentials to the citizens. The Oxfam teams are in the communities of Camp-Perrin, Torbeck, Jeramie, and Les Cayes delivering hygiene kits, water purification tablets, buckets and soap.

To date, Oxfam has raised over $300,000 for Haiti Relief

Donate now to help us meet the most critical needs.

Click Here for Relief for Haiti (https://my.oxfamamerica.org/fundraise?fcid=802819)

100% of the funds raised for our Hurricane Matthew efforts will be directed to execute our response and recovery programs.

Also, the following organizations among others are providing relief Action Against Hunger, All Hands Volunteers, CARE, Direct Relief, Mercy Corps, Project HOPE, World Concern, World Vision International

Press: Rosemary "Rose" Ducharme | rd@wazzupmediagroup.com