Heavy rains makes it harder for humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti

The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) reported that heavy rains over the past few days have worsened conditions in areas already affected by Hurricane Matthew, increasing the challenges to humanitarian aid distribution in the small island country, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here Monday.

MINUSTAH continues to facilitate the transport to the area, including an Internews team to Jeremie on Sunday, Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here. "The media foundation Internews will establish and support the work of community radios in the south-west of Haiti."

On the humanitarian front, the World Food Programme (WFP) provided another 1,150 tons of food, reaching some 173,000 people on Oct. 8-20 and water purification tablets are being distributed for 190,000 people, he said.

Thirteen trucks for 175,000 people in 307 temporary shelters were sent to Les Cayes and Jeremie last week, he added.

Hurricane Matthew killed more than 1,000 people in Haiti when it struck on Oct. 4, leaving more than 175,000 without homes, and over a million more struggling to survive in what UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called "absolute devastation."

The United Nations estimates at least 1.4 million Haitians are now in need of urgent assistance as clean water, food, and medicine are in short supply, and an ongoing cholera epidemic threatens to worsen and spread after dozens of cholera treatment centers were destroyed. Enditem