Gonaïves is a city in northern Haiti, the capital of Artibonite department. It has a population of about 400,000 people.
It is sometimes known as Haiti's "independence city" because it was there that Jean-Jacques Dessalines declared Haiti's independence on January 1, 1804.
In September 2004, Hurricane Jeanne caused major flooding and mudslides in the city. 1,650 people are confirmed dead in Haiti, and the death toll in Gonaïves is expected to top 2,000. Every building in the city was damaged by the storm, and 250,000 people were left homeless.
Gonaives is a port city with an estimated population of 200,000.
To say that Gonaives was traumatized is a gross understatement: 80% of the population was affected, more than 4,500 houses were destroyed, dead livestock contaminated water supplies, edible food was in scarce supply, crops were wiped out, access to the city was treacherous at best, and security was non-existent.
GonaivesÂ’ hospital was damaged and closed down indefinitely, and health care made available primarily through small health centers.
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