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Hurricane Matthew: 'Massive response' needed in Haiti, UN says | Hurricane Matthew: 'Massive response' needed in Haiti, UN says |
(35 minutes later) | |
The UN secretary general has said that a "massive response" is needed to help Haiti recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. | The UN secretary general has said that a "massive response" is needed to help Haiti recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Matthew. |
Some towns and villages had been wiped off the map and tensions were already mounting as people awaited help, Ban Ki-moon said. | Some towns and villages had been wiped off the map and tensions were already mounting as people awaited help, Ban Ki-moon said. |
The UN has also made an emergency appeal for nearly $120m (£97m) in aid. | The UN has also made an emergency appeal for nearly $120m (£97m) in aid. |
The category-four storm is believed to have killed as many as 900 people in the Caribbean country. | The category-four storm is believed to have killed as many as 900 people in the Caribbean country. |
Matthew, the strongest hurricane to hit the region in a decade, destroyed tens of thousands of homes in Haiti, leaving more than 60,000 people staying in temporary shelters. | Matthew, the strongest hurricane to hit the region in a decade, destroyed tens of thousands of homes in Haiti, leaving more than 60,000 people staying in temporary shelters. |
"Hundreds have died; at least 1.4 million people need assistance at this time. Some towns and villages have been almost wiped off the map; crops and food reserves have been destroyed; at least 300 schools have been damaged," Mr Ban said. | "Hundreds have died; at least 1.4 million people need assistance at this time. Some towns and villages have been almost wiped off the map; crops and food reserves have been destroyed; at least 300 schools have been damaged," Mr Ban said. |
Officials said some people had started to put up blockades to try and stop aid convoys they saw driving through their areas without stopping. | Officials said some people had started to put up blockades to try and stop aid convoys they saw driving through their areas without stopping. |
An aid worker told the Associated Press news agency that a convoy carrying food, water and medications was attacked by gunmen in a remote valley where there had been a mudslide. | An aid worker told the Associated Press news agency that a convoy carrying food, water and medications was attacked by gunmen in a remote valley where there had been a mudslide. |
The UN humanitarian agency issued an appeal to help provide "life-saving assistance and protection" for 750,000 people in south-western Haiti over the next three months. | |
Officials were still struggling to reach the hardest-hit areas, the agency said, with communities in need of food, clean water and clothing. | Officials were still struggling to reach the hardest-hit areas, the agency said, with communities in need of food, clean water and clothing. |
Haiti's ambassador to the UN said the country would face a "severe famine" as its south-western region, the most affected by Matthew, is "considered the bread basket of Haiti". | |
"The needs are urgent," Pierre-Andre Dunbar added. | |
There were growing fears that flooding could cause a cholera outbreak similar to that after the 2010 earthquake. The waterborne disease reached the island via Nepalese UN troops, causing the deaths of nearly 10,000 people. | There were growing fears that flooding could cause a cholera outbreak similar to that after the 2010 earthquake. The waterborne disease reached the island via Nepalese UN troops, causing the deaths of nearly 10,000 people. |
Reports said a treatment centre in the town of Jeremie was overcrowded with not enough beds for patients, and some of them were being forced outside. Many of the cases involved children. | Reports said a treatment centre in the town of Jeremie was overcrowded with not enough beds for patients, and some of them were being forced outside. Many of the cases involved children. |
Other countries including France and the US have pledged to send aid. The Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal for $6.9m (£5.6m) and Unicef said it needed at least $5m to meet the immediate needs of 500,000 affected children. | Other countries including France and the US have pledged to send aid. The Red Cross has launched an emergency appeal for $6.9m (£5.6m) and Unicef said it needed at least $5m to meet the immediate needs of 500,000 affected children. |
Meanwhile, at least 21 have been killed by Matthew in the US, 10 of them in North Carolina, most of them swept away by flood waters. | |
"Hurricane Matthew is off the map. But it is still with us. And it is still deadly," Governor Pat McCrory said. | |
There were also four deaths in Florida and three each in Georgia and South Carolina. One death was reported in Virginia. Nearly 1.2 million people were without power. | |
Are you in any of the affected areas? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in any of the affected areas? You can share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |
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