Above: flooding in Port-au-Prince (UN Photo/Logan Abassi)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
The United Nations is ramping up its humanitarian relief efforts following Tropical Storm Isaac.
The storm, which departed from Haiti this weekend, continued to pose flooding risks and reportedly killed at least 19 people across the country.
“In support of the government’s coordination mechanisms, and depending on the scope of the needs, the humanitarian community is ready to provide further assistance for the distribution of potable water, Aquatabs, non-food and food items, theraputic nutrition supply, hygiene kits and cholera response kits, among others,” the UN said in a release.
The UN said Haiti’s government was being “closely assisted” by UN groups such as the UN Development Programme.
It has already been providing stocks of food and drinking water to centres for evacuees in Haiti’s West, South East, Grand’Anse and Artibonite departments.
The West and southeastern departments of Haiti are reportedly those most significantly affected by Isaac.
UNICEF is also working with Haiti’s Child Protection agency to staff its call centre for vulnerable children, the world body said.