| Date | 21 September 2004 |
|---|
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Hurricane in the Dominican Republic and Haiti
The President
I should like, on behalf of all the members of the General Assembly, to extend our deepest sympathy to the Governments and the peoples of Haiti and of the Dominican Republic for the tragic loss of life and extensive material damage that have resulted from the recent hurricane in those countries. We also express our deepest sympathy to the Governments and the peoples of all those countries affected by the recent hurricanes.
I urge the international community to show its solidarity and hope that it will respond promptly and generously to any request for help from those countries.
I now invite Mr. Boniface Alexandre, Interim President of the Republic of Haiti, to take the floor.
President Alexandre
(Haiti)
On behalf of the Haitian people, I thank the President of the General Assembly for the special attention being given to Haiti.
On behalf of the Haitian people, who have once again been struck by a terrible tragedy, I wish to express my most heartfelt thanks for the sympathy expressed by our friends in the international community. This disaster has taken many Haitian lives, especially in the southern part of the country, and has caused considerable physical damage to an environment that, unfortunately, is already in poor condition.
I am very appreciative of the rapid and effective response provided by the international community during the flooding that affected the country last spring. In the face of this tragedy, which is of the magnitude of a humanitarian disaster, I appeal urgently for the solidarity of the international community, so that it may once again support the efforts of the Government in the provision of emergency assistance to those who have suffered.
The President
I thank the Interim President of the Republic of Haiti.
The President
I now give the floor to Mr. Carlos Morales Troncoso, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.
Mr. Morales Troncoso (Dominican Republic)
On behalf of Mr. Leonel Fernández Reyna, President of our Republic, I wish to express thanks for the kindness that has been shown to my country in connection with the terrible disaster that has just struck the Dominican Republic as well as our neighbour, the Republic of Haiti.
Day after day, we are saddened to hear painful news of the serious floods that have taken many lives, left hundreds injured and tens of thousands homeless, and caused significant damage to the agriculture and infrastructure of a number of provinces of our country. In the face of this situation, my Government has taken urgent steps to bring relief to the most seriously affected areas.
This challenge, combined with others, is considerable, and, in order to meet it, we will need the international community's cooperation -- convinced as we are that, as in other similar situations, we will be able to rely on its help.
Lastly, we wish to convey our gratitude for the expressions of solidarity already received from many Governments, which have shared our sorrow in these difficult times.
The President
I thank the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic.
