Over 140,000 people remain homeless in Haiti after Hurricane Matthew, according to the latest update from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA).
Hurricane Matthew made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane near Les Anglais in the Sud Department of Haiti during the morning of 04 October 2016.
The storm and ensuing damage resulted in the country’s largest humanitarian emergency since the 2010 earthquake. It caused extensive flooding and mudslides, damage to road infrastructure and buildings, as well as electricity and water shortages.
Over 500 Dead
The latest figures from the governmental Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC) of Haiti have confirmed 546 deaths and 438 injured as a result of the hurricane.
140,000 Without Homes, 116,000 Without School
Over three weeks since the hurricane struck, the number of displaced stands at 141,493. Those displaced are living in 204 temporary shelters. Almost 800 schools in the affected areas are damaged or destroyed, leaving 116,000 children without education.
Humanitarian and Food Assistance
UNOCHA adds that 1.4 million humanitarian assistance, more than 40 per cent are children who are mainly in the Grand’Anse and Sud Departments. Of the 1.4 million, UNOCHA say that over 800,000 people urgently require food assistance.
Cholera
In the wake of Hurricane Matthew, health officials in Haiti said they were preparing for a likely surge in cholera cases after the storm had severely damaged water supplies and sanitation systems.
UNOCHA says that, between 04 to 24 October, 3,423 suspected cholera cases were reported, including 1,065 in Sud and 752 in Grand’Anse Departments.
