Members of Calgary's Haitian community are watching events in their homeland closely as the Caribbean nation deals with an outbreak of cholera.
Singing and praying for their loved ones back home, about two dozen members of Calgary's Haitian community gathered Sunday at a northeast church.
"We are afraid that cholera spread throughout the country. As you know, many people think Haiti is cursed because of (the earthquake on) January 12," says Jean Fevry.
"But biblically speaking, historically speaking, Haiti is not cursed. I do believe one day, Haiti will be blessed like any other nation."
Nine months ago, Fevry and others gathered here to pray after an earthquake devastated their country. Now they are praying that their loved ones are safe from the latest outbreak.
They say faith will see them through this latest challenge.
Josette Jean Rene still has family living in Port-Au-Prince, the Haitian capital.
"That's why I am here. We have been praying, watching on Internet. We saw so many people dying – kids, adults," Rene says.
In Haiti, the death toll topped 200 Saturday. More than 2,600 cholera cases have been reported with the main area of the outbreak just north of the capital.
But five cases have been confirmed in Port-Au-Prince, and the fear is the disease will rip through the crowded, ravaged capital.
Haitian officials say the most recent cases in the capital were quickly diagnosed and isolated. Haitian and international medical teams continue to work around the clock to contain the epidemic.
The federal government has given $1 million to help battle the outbreak. Members of Calgary's local Haitian community are hoping that is just the beginning.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is also asking the leaders of the world's French-speaking countries to do more to help the impoverished Carribean island nation.
