The United Nations' humanitarian wing has expressed worry over the magnitude of destruction caused by Hurricane Ike in the Carribean. The WFP and OCHA have been distributing relief to nearly 800,000 people affected in the region.

“The UN is already distributing food and potable water (in the wake of Hanna),” said Elizabeth Byrs, a spokesperson for the office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). In Haiti, where some 800,000 people have been affected by flooding and lethal mudslides, UN agencies are mobilising their relief efforts by providing emergency food assistance, water, purification tablets, blankets and other supplies.


“The World Food Programme (WFP) has distributed over 170 tonnes of food, 60,000 litres in bottled water, 80,000 litres of potable water, hygiene kits and plastic sheeting. But, we are very worried because some parts of the city are completely flooded,” Byrs said in an interview with the UN radio.

She also reported that a humanitarian crisis is emerging in the city of Camak, where many Haitians have taken refuge as floods inundated almost 85 per cent of nearby Gonaïves.


“We have a logistical nightmare because of the destruction of the roads. The two major roads to Gonaïves are blocked by fallen trees and debris and a bridge collapsed on the only road, which was accessible to light trucks,” added Byrs.


The UN has also offered humanitarian assistance to Cuba, where OCHA is preparing an emergency cash grant as well as an application to the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). The country is currently being battered by Hurricane Ike, but hundreds of people have already been evacuated as a result of Hurricane Gustav, which caused significant damage to over 140,000 homes, schools and hospitals at the end of last month.