On Tuesday 4th October, Hurricane Matthew swept through Haiti’s western peninsula, bringing with it winds of 145mph (233km/h) and heavy rain.
The UN’s OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) estimates that 750,000 people are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, and 1.3 million have been affected by Hurricane Matthew. The World Food Programme reports that 80% of harvest has been lost in some areas, putting intense pressure on food resources.
The death toll currently stands at between 800 and 1,000 people, and outbreaks of cholera have been reported, due to the mixing of flood water with sewage. 13 people have already succumbed to the disease, and there are fears that cholera may spread throughout the region.
Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America, and its people are in desperate need of emergency aid. Fragile coastal villages are among the most severely affected, and Haitian officials have reported that 61,500 people remain in temporary shelters due to the destruction of tens of thousands of homes.
In the town of Jeremie, 80% of the buildings have been demolished and there are not enough beds in the local cholera treatment centre to accommodate all the patients in need of medical attention.
Many affected areas in south-west Haiti remain cut off, with flooded roads preventing access and communications disconnected. An important bridge that connects Haiti’s southern peninsula to the rest of the country has reportedly collapsed.
Human Appeal is already on the ground in Haiti and our emergency response team is delivering life-saving aid to people who have had their homes and communities devastated. Survivors are in desperate need of medical assistance, food and shelter, and we need your help to effectively aid those who have been plunged into crisis by Hurricane Matthew.
Please donate now to help Haiti’s survivors in their hour of need.
