Gonaives: A Long Road to Recovery

By Kai T. Hill

Last hurricane season, the economically depressed port city of Gonaives, Haiti, endured raging floods that set it back years in development. Storms Gustav, Hanna and Ike brought torrential rains and massive flooding that persisted for days. "Before the hurricane, Gonaives people were trying to get their lives together," says one Gonaives resident. "Then this happens." Crops were washed out. Thousands lost their homes. Others were trapped on their rooftops with small children with no food or water for days. Today, the lingering mud remains a formidable obstacle to recovery.

In addition to providing immediate relief supplies to thousands of affected families, Catholic Relief Services established a cash-for-work program that paid residents to help clear mud from streets and buildings. Above all, the program gave residents a stake in their own fate. As a result, over two dozen schools have reopened while another 11 are awaiting cleanup. Captured by photojournalist David Snyder, the following images show the resilient spirit of residents.