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Haiti, Dominican Republic await Tropical Storm Isaac Haiti, Dominican Republic await Tropical Storm Isaac
(about 11 hours later)
Haiti and the Dominican Republic are braced for a battering as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Hispaniola, the island shared by the two countries.Haiti and the Dominican Republic are braced for a battering as Tropical Storm Isaac approaches Hispaniola, the island shared by the two countries.
Some 400,000 Haitians still living in makeshift camps after a deadly earthquake in 2010 are "amongst the most vulnerable", aid groups warn.Some 400,000 Haitians still living in makeshift camps after a deadly earthquake in 2010 are "amongst the most vulnerable", aid groups warn.
Isaac could have become a hurricane by the time it is due to hit the island later on Friday, meteorologists say. Isaac is due to hit the island later on Friday, meteorologists say.
It will then move on to Cuba and the southern US by the weekend. It will then move on to Cuba and the south of the United States by the weekend.
The storm could pose a potential threat to Florida during the US Republican National Convention.The storm could pose a potential threat to Florida during the US Republican National Convention.
Disease warningDisease warning
At 00:00 GMT, Isaac - with gusts of winds of 75km/h (45mph) - was about 340km (211 miles) south-east of the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said. At 18:00 GMT, Isaac - with maximum sustained winds of 95km/h (60mph) - was about 215km (135 miles) south-east of the Haitian capital, Port au Prince, and 255km (160 miles) away from the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo, the Miami-based US National Hurricane Center said.
The storm could unleash up to 20 inches (51cm) of rain when it makes landfall on the island. The storm could unleash up to 20 inches (51cm) of rain on the island.
Isaac is no longer expected to become a hurricane as it hits the island of Hispaniola, but the near-hurricane strength winds and rain have the potential to cause great destruction, especially in Haiti.
"These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the NHC warned."These rains could cause life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the NHC warned.
In Haiti, people living in the makeshift squatter camps were "amongst the more vulnerable, should the storm hit the city," humanitarian group World Vision said. In Haiti, people living in the makeshift squatter camps were "amongst the more vulnerable, should the storm hit the city", humanitarian group World Vision said.
"Without a stable sanitation system or permanent housing, heavy rain and wind can create much larger problems like disease from water contamination," the group's Haiti director Jean-Claude Mukadi was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency."Without a stable sanitation system or permanent housing, heavy rain and wind can create much larger problems like disease from water contamination," the group's Haiti director Jean-Claude Mukadi was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
Isaac is also expected to bring rain and wind to the nearby Puerto Rico. Isaac is also expected to bring rain and wind to nearby Puerto Rico.
Several Cuban provinces are now on a state of alert, as well as parts of the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos islands.
Are you preparing for the storm? Send us your experiences using the form below.Are you preparing for the storm? Send us your experiences using the form below.