Businesses, banks re-open in Haiti

Shops and banks have re-opened in rubble-choked Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. But thousands of Haitians are still fleeing their quake-ravaged city. Some are even seeking visas to flee the country as others wait for help.

Amid the devastation, signs of daily life have begun to resume in Port-au-Prince on Friday, as cash becomes available, shops reopen, and earthquake survivors try to leave the country.

Tapas, Haiti's small, colorful decorated private buses, have started circulating in the capital, sharing the streets with pedestrians and motorists.

Banks are scheduled to reopen on Saturday and money transfer agencies are doing brisk business after opening earlier in the day.

Some supermarkets have reopened, selling everything from slabs of ham to cleaning products.

A supermarket owner said, "Everything was on the floor. All the products fell down. We've taken charge again. We cleaned everything up and recognized the market. We hope that everything will continue and that we will receive merchandise to sell."

"People are buying anything they can cook and eat, such as milk and bread."

Haitians are realizing it could take months or years to regain some sense of normality. But some who have relatives overseas are queuing at the immigration office, to apply for a visa to leave the country.

Despite signs of normality, the scars of devastation are still visible across the capital, as Haitians struggle to find food, water and medical help.

The Haitian government has promised to help nearly a half million people move from the squalid camps that have been set up to safer, cleaner tent cities outside the capital.