Quake a "Catastrophe of Major Proportions"

(CBS)  CBS News anchor Katie Couric spoke with Raymond Alcide Joseph, Haiti's ambassador to the United States about a magnitude 7 earthquake that hit 10 miles west of the capital of Port-au-Prince - perhaps the strongest earthquake ever to hit the region.

Couric: What are you hearing about what has happened in Haiti from residents there?

Joseph: I was able to reach the secretary general to the presidency Mr. Fritz Longchamp, the only official I was able to contact. And he told me he was driving his car east from Port-au-Prince to a suburb east of the capital and buildings started to collapse on both sides of the streets so he had to park his car and start walking. And it was just at that instant that I found him. He said it is a "catastrophe of major proportions." That's his own words. And he told me he was not able to reach any official, not the president nor anyone. And he was walking to his place not knowing what was awaiting him, not knowing whether he could cross the bridge to get to his place. So, you know, it's hard reading.

How to Help Victims
Blog: The Latest Developments
Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti

Couric: Mr. Ambassador, we've been hearing reports that a hospital collapsed, that people are crying out under that collapsed structure. Have you heard anything along those lines?

Joseph: I spoke with somebody from World Vision while I was on the air on CNN and he was saying there was wailing, crying all over, dust rising up all over the place. So he also said that's all we can say because nobody can count the dead yesterday. But he said it's going to be a real catastrophe.

Couric: President Obama, Mr. Ambassador, issued a statement and said "my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake, we're closely monitoring the situation and we stand ready to assist the people of Haiti." What kind of help and support might you need from the United States and other nations?

Joseph: You know, in the past, the United States came to our help. In 2008 we had four hurricanes that hit in a matter of three weeks and the United States had dispatched the U.S.S. "Comfort" to Haitian waters. Hospital beds aboard the "Comfort." And the southern command which is the U.S. military in Florida came to Haiti's support. Now I suppose the same thing can be done. I'm quite sure we will need everything. Somebody has just called me and talked to one of my colleagues to say they found out that the White House in Haiti, which you call the palace, is damaged. Also, the equivalent of the tax office, you know, I.R.S., is damaged. And there are some shantytowns around Port-au-Prince, around the hills, they have collapsed like cards.

Couric: Well, U.S. Ambassador Raymond Alcide Joseph, thank you for talking with us and updating us on this terrible situation in your country. We so appreciate it.

Joseph: Thank you very much for your concern and your help and please tell the world Haiti needs them right now.

Complete Coverage:

Major Quake Hits Haiti; Many Deaths Feared
Quake a "Catastrophe of Major Proportions"
Watch: Haiti Ambassador on Disaster
Haiti Earthquake Victim Describes Scene
Obama: U.S. Stands Ready to Help Haiti
USGS: Summary of Haiti Quake's Danger Level
Haitian Earthquake Photos
U.N. Headquarters Damaged in Haiti
Relief Agencies Ready Haiti Preparations

[mljohns00]

The photos remind me of what Iraq and Afghanistan now look like.

[erb0087]

by dmoore11267 January 12, 2010 10:31 PM EST
Yes really, natures enema....good way to end generations of suffering and misery.
======================================================

Comments like the above are bad karma.

And I hate to disappoint you, but thiis earthquake is not going to wipe out the people of Haiti, any more than Vesuvius wiped out the people of Italy.

Mankind, of whatever race or religion, rises above these catastrophes.

[amazedd]

Darkness falls across the land
The midnite hour is close at hand
Creatures crawl in search of blood
To terrorize y'awl's neighborhood
And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul for getting down
Must stand and face the hounds of hell
And rot inside a corpse's shell
The foulest stench is in the air
The funk of forty thousand years
And grizzly ghouls from every tomb
Are closing in to seal your doom
And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver
For no mere mortal can resist
The evil of the thriller

[democracy1]

It amazes me that some of you are so indifferent to the suffering of others.

You'd be peeing in your pants if you had to go through what these people have gone through the past few years. Shame on you!

[Imadinnerjacket]

looks more like grady

[unibarbie]

So when did they make Fred Sanford an ambassador?

[EdieBex]

Wow. You previous posters have no understanding of Haiti, or compassion for a country that's just been hit by a 7.0 earthquake. "Nature's enema," really!? Please go crawl back under your rocks.

I've heard that Partners in Health -- http://www.pih.org/where/Haiti/Haiti.html -- is a well-run NGO that's been doing very good work in Haiti. If you want to make a donation, they could surely use it now.

[democracy1]

by dmoore11267 January 12, 2010 10:31 PM EST
Yes really, natures enema....good way to end generations of suffering and misery. If Partners in Health can guarantee me any money I send them will only go towards spay and neutering tell me where to send the check


People like you are simply beyond pathetic and disgusting!

[democracy1]

You people commenting here are truly sad. I feel sorry for you. Your lives must be very miserable and bitter. Did you make the same type of heartless, cynical and unfeeling comments when thousands died in the tsunami in the Indian Ocean a few years back?

[wyodutch]

How can you look at that smiling face and not want to send a billion dollars or so?
.
Hallalujah Brothers! We was broke and God sent us an earthquake so the stupid Americans would send us cash.
.
Yemen has 7 Al Qaeda members and America sent them $26 million. Here in Haiti, we had an earthquake... and that pays almost as well as having a guy with flaming underwear threatening those idiot Americans.

[pdxdave]

Hmmmm..... wonder who will rush to their aid?

Oh, the EVIL Americans, of course. You know: The ones who are imperialist pigs who want nothing but to colonize poor nations inhabited by brown-skinned peoples, and rape their resources.

Why those filthy Americans. They can keep their aid. Those noble Haitians can take care of themselves.

US OUT OF HAITI!!!!!