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death toll from hurricane melissa The death toll in Haiti has risen to 43 and 13 others are still missing in the country, Haiti’s government said Tuesday.
Crews were still trying to reach people in the country’s southwest region after landslides and floodwaters destroyed more than 30 communities.
At least 25 deaths were reported in the south-western coastal town of Petit-Goave, one of the hardest-hit communities.
category 5 hurricaneone of the strongest atlantic The storm hit record highs after the hurricane hit Haiti last week, flooding nearly 12,000 homes and destroying nearly 200 others. Many roads remain inaccessible.
The government warned that many communities lack drinking water, and that it would soon distribute seeds and equipment to farmers facing large agricultural losses.
More than 1,700 people live in shelters.
Meanwhile, nearby JamaicaCrews were trying to reach more than two dozen communities that had been cut off since Melissa made landfall on October 28.
At least 32 people died in the storm JamaicaOfficials warned that the numbers would rise.
Head of Mike Bassett Christian Disaster relief and development organization World Vision International said a potential humanitarian crisis could loom if aid is not delivered quickly.
“I’ve been doing this for over 10 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” Bassett said in Jamaica on Tuesday.
He said that while visiting storm-ravaged communities such as Chester Castle and CambridgeDue to lack of electricity and water supply after the storm, people were seen bathing in the river and collecting its water for drinking.
World Vision is one of a growing list of international aid agencies and volunteers working independently and with Jamaican authorities to provide aid.
“Relief flights are arriving rapidly and there is no shortage of supplies,” he said. transportation and Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, who co-chairs a special committee established to streamline the government’s relief and recovery efforts.
Pernell Charles Jr., who leads Jamaica’s Ministry of Social Security, said relief efforts were being stepped up.
“We are coordinating with every available resource,” said Charles, who rejected complaints that not enough was being done to get aid to storm survivors quickly.