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Solidarity grows among Haitians in crisis
Former UN spokesperson Michele Montas was in Haiti when the earthquake struck her country on Tuesday.
Ban Ki-moon, René Préval et Michèle Montas
She had an emotional reunion with her former chief, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the airport on Sunday, and helped translate into Creole his press conference later that day.
Michele told Radio Minustah in Port-au-Prince that despite the devastation, there were positive signs, including the fact that they were picking up the bodies in the streets and some communications had been re-established. She also pointed to the growing solidarity among Haitians.
MONTAS: People who have a little bit give to a neighbor what they have and that feeling of sharing, of giving to the others who are as affected as you are by this tragedy, I think it's a sign that Haiti will bounce back.
The former spokesperson, who retired from the UN late last year, said it was fortunate that it had not been raining in Port-au-Prince, so that people were able to sleep in the open air and in squares throughout the capital city.
The UN estimates that 10 per cent of the buildings in the capital have been destroyed, leaving 300,000 people homeless.
International urban search-and-rescue teams continue to work around the clock to find survivors trapped underneath the rubble. More than 70 people have been found alive, a record number for these operations after an earthquake.
Diane Bailey, United Nations
Duration 1'30
Interview with Michele Montas conducted by Franklin Moliba Sese of Radio MINUSTAH
