Slow recovery in Port-de-Paix as storm leaves more than 270,000 affected in Northwest Haiti

PORT-DE-PAIX—More than a month after torrential rains devastated Port-de-Paix, the city remains a disaster zone. Streets are still buried under debris, thick mud, and stagnant, foul-smelling water. Residents navigate flooded roads littered with garbage and sewage, while collapsed structures serve as reminders of the storm’s destruction. Despite urgent pleas for help, cleanup efforts have been painfully slow, leaving more than 270,000 people in limbo, struggling to rebuild their lives.

“My house was destroyed by the landslide, I lost everything,” said Ilrick Louis, another sexagenarian resident.

“Currently, I am living with one of my neighbors. I am wondering about the support of the local authorities—until now, I have not received any visit from them. I live in an extremely difficult situation.”

Weeks of torrential rain in the Northwest department, culminating in severe flooding on Dec. 23 and 24, led to catastrophic losses in Port-de-Paix. According to a final report of the Northwest Departmental Directorate of Civil Protection, a service of the city’s Departmental Emergency Operations Center, 33,980 houses were flooded, 13 people lost their lives, and 57 others were injured. The disaster has affected an estimated 270,000 people.

In La Belle Place, another hard-hit area, residents feel abandoned. In this locality, some families have lost their beds in the flood causing their children to struggle to sleep.

“Until now, we have not received any support. We have not seen the presence of any local authority. We are like those left behind. The situation is complex and difficult for all of us,” Ylienet François said last month.

Aftermath of the flood, a city in ruins

During a three-day tour of the city from Jan. 28 to 30, the extent of the devastation was still evident. Port-de-Paix and its neighboring cities and communal sections remain choked with landslide debris and collapsed structures. Streets once bustling with commercial activities are now obstacle courses of mud and waste. The clearing work, initiated afterward by local authorities, progresses at a slow pace, failing to meet the promised 26-day deadline. Residents, many of whom lost their homes, continue to wait for aid that has yet to arrive.

From the popular neighborhoods of Dèletan, Démelus and Nan Cassave to Cité Maxo and La Tendrie, the images of the flood’s destruction are still visible. The canal of Demélus and the Port-de-Paix River, which overflowed and inundated several streets, remain filled with debris keeping residents fearing the worst in case of bad weather conditions.

“People need help so that they can return to their homes. The country’s officials have not yet intervened in our area, which was greatly affected. The leaders of the city are negligent,” said Rodely Sainvil a resident of Démélus.

In La Belle Place, another hard-hit area, residents feel abandoned. In this locality, some families have lost their beds in the flood causing their children to struggle to sleep.

“Until now, we have not received any support. We have not seen the presence of any local authority. We are like those left behind. The situation is complex and difficult for all of us,” Ylienet François said last month.

A struggling recovery, local authorities slow to respond

On Jan. 28, local officials claimed progress in clearing storm debris, but residents say it’s barely made a difference. The Ministry of Public Works, Transport, and Communication (MTPTC) reported that 23,000 cubic meters of waste—roughly 1,200 truckloads—had been removed since Dec. 23. However, the cleanup has focused on main roads in the city center, leaving entire neighborhoods untouched. Many streets outside downtown Port-de-Paix remain buried under layers of mud and rubble, prolonging the suffering of those waiting for aid.

“The roads in the inner city of Port-de Paix were so deteriorated after the flood that they required complete attention.” Joseph said during a press conference responding to critics that said he neglected the road connecting Port-de-Paix and the four municipalities of the lower Northwest which are still in very poor condition.

“The state should assist the victims without wasting time because they pay taxes. They have contributed to putting money in the public treasury account. The state has the mission to support them in return—it is not a favor.”

Lawyer and activist Kerly Dubréus

In December, days following the inundation, Port-de-Paix Mayor Yanick Agénord said that the city urgently needed more trucks and loaders to complete the cleanup and would deliver a clean city in 26 days. However, authorities in Port-au-Prince who visited the city after the catastrophic flooding and landslides have not pledged any funds or new materials and instead suggested using 30 million gourdes from the city public treasury to do the cleanup—money that had already been allocated for other community needs.

Residents in flood-ravaged neighborhoods, unable to rely on official aid, have been left to fend for themselves, struggling to remove the mud and filth from their homes and businesses. Even those trying to resume normal life face significant challenges. Lawyer and activist Kerly Dubréus condemned the state’s lack of preparedness and response. 

“The state should assist the victims without wasting time because they pay taxes. They have contributed to putting money in the public treasury account. The state has the mission to support them in return—it is not a favor.” Dubréus said.

“None of my neighbors who were victims have received help. Houses are still damaged, children have lost all their clothes and school materials. It is time for state officials and organizations to intervene and help all victims, without exclusion,” said Samantha Nordé, a 27-year-old teacher from Nan Cassave.

Business owners and retailers in limbo, uncertainty grows

At the three main markets in Port-de-Paix, vendors and buyers navigate streets still layered in filth. The commercial activity has resumed, but at a significant cost to public health.

“The waste remains around us, and it gives off bad smells and harms our health. Every day, we are forced to come and sell our items because we cannot remain inactive,” said Wideline Florestant, a street vendor selling fresh vegetables amid the debris.

Those who sought refuge in temporary shelters, such as public schools, were forced to leave and relocate to family homes deeper in the countryside. Meanwhile, street vendors like Florestant face worsening economic conditions as they lose their primary source of income.

“My house was destroyed. My family and I spent almost three weeks in a temporary shelter, and now we’ve returned to the countryside to live with extended family. My economic situation has only worsened because I lost my business and haven’t received any help,” said Velourde Jean-Louis.

Business owners have also suffered immense losses, with little hope of recovery. 

“My company has been greatly affected. My losses are estimated at more than USD$100,000. I have lost various materials, generators, and a sound system. I have not received any help from the state authorities, nor have they come to visit me. However, I pay taxes every year to the General Directorate of Taxes (DGI), so the state has known of the existence of our company,” said entrepreneur Frankel Joanel.

For many residents, the future remains uncertain. The fear of another devastating flood looms over Port-de-Paix, but for now, residents are focused on survival—waiting for the help that, so far, has not come.

At the Jan. 28 press conference, engineer Joseph, the MTPTC Departmental director, warned that Port-de-Paix remains at high risk of future flooding unless major structural changes are made. He highlighted the city’s ongoing vulnerabilities because of many clogged irrigation and drainage canals while answering questions about complaints that transport to and from the city remains a challenge, with gang-controlled routes making travel even more dangerous and expensive.

“Our first observation is that the environmental problem is much more serious than even the insecurity crisis in the country. Addressing insecurity can take three to four months with specific measures, but solving the environmental issues will require five to ten years. If no serious work is done, the city will face even more devastating floods,” Joseph said.

“Nature has nothing to do with what happened. The real culprits are the authorities of the state, who have never done anything to protect the population. Our environment has not been saved. They have caused the deaths of these people and the destruction of their property,” Dubréus said.

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Slow recovery in Port-de-Paix as storm leaves more than 270,000 affected in Northwest Haiti was first posted on February 14, 2025 at 8:27 am.