Aid workers and officials are also warning that flooding could lead to a
sharp rise in cholera cases. Sandy is blamed for some 70 deaths in the
Caribbean. Of these more than 50 were in Haiti.
In Jamaica and Cuba, which took direct hits from the hurricane, the
clean-up is also continuing. Sandy, which was a category one hurricane when it
clipped Haiti last week, brought heavy rain and flooding. At least 54 people
died in what Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe called a "disaster of major
proportions".
Haiti's cholera epidemic
There is concern that floods and unsanitary conditions could led to an
increase in cholera cases. More than 7,500 people have died in the cholera
epidemic in Haiti since late 2010. Hundreds of new cases are still being
registered every week.
Another big worry is the damage to the agriculture sector. More than 70%
of crops - including bananas, plantains and maize - were destroyed in the south
of the country, officials said. Food insecurity, particularly in this part of
Haiti, was already a major concern. Rising food prices have in the past
triggered at times violent demonstrations in Haiti.
In Jamaica, Sandy caused extensive damage to crops, including coffee and
bananas. Dozens of houses were destroyed and many more damaged. "Even
before the hurricane we faced serious economic challenges. This has been made
worse by the passage of Hurricane Sandy," Prime Minister Portia Simpson
Miller said.
Eleven people died in Cuba, making Sandy one of the deadliest storms
there in recent years. The eastern province of Santiago was the worst-hit, with
flooding and landslides destroying crops, knocking out power and damaging
buildings.
President Raul Castro, who toured the area on Sunday, warned that
recovery would take a long time. "It's been hard. But Santiago is
Santiago. It's resisted gales and wars of every type. It will overcome
this," he was quoted as saying by the Communist Party newspaper Granma.
Source: BBC
Please share
No comments:
Post a Comment