Flooding has forced thousands of people in the low-lying city of Gonaives to flee to rooftops and higher ground, where many have gone days without food. Safe drinking water is in very short supply as the carcasses of drowned farm animals foul the floodwaters.
Gonaives is Haiti's fourth-largest city. It lies in a flat river plain between the ocean and deforested mountains that run with mud even in light rains. Hanna swirled over the country for four days, dumping massive amounts of water.
U.N. peacekeepers are securing a warehouse in the city, preparing for a food distribution effort.
Haiti's government has been hard-pressed to do much to help as huge lakes have formed over every road into Gonaives, blocking rescue convoys.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)