UN makes urgent appeal for help with Haiti crisis

The United Nations and its partners on Sunday issued an urgent appeal for increased humanitarian access and resources for Haiti, stating that the humanitarian situation across the French-speaking Caribbean Community (Caricom) country continues to deteriorate “day by day due to a spiral of violence, emergencies related to protection, human rights and food insecurity as well as an epidemic of cholera”.

In a statement, following a two-day mission, the acting Director of Operations and Advocacy Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) ,Tareq Talahma said “we cannot let Haiti become a forgotten crisis”.

“The influence of armed gangs is growing exponentially in Port-au-Prince and beyond, including Artibonite department – the country’s breadbasket.”

The statement said that six representatives of UN aid agencies and International Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) met with people affected by the humanitarian crisis, local and international partners, acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry and other Government officials.

The delegation also met with representatives of communities in areas controlled or under the influence of armed gangs.

“We have appreciated the frank, honest and sometimes uncomfortable discussions with people impacted by the multiple crises in this country, Government leaders, UN officials and inter-

Sargassum seaweed mass the width of North America to invade the Caribbean

The Caribbean is facing a major environmental crisis this summer as a mass of sargassum seaweed measuring approximately 5000 miles wide and up to seven feet deep approaches the Region’s shores.

This comes to light as Antigua and Barbuda works together with French territories Guadeloupe and Martinique who are taking measures to fight the seaweed’s effects on their shores.

biofuel, fabrics, soaps and perfumes, as well as other cottage industries that have already begun to appear locally such as Dadli Yellow which has worked towards manufacturing swimwear out of sargassum fabric.

vironmental issues by clogging up beaches and other areas, making them difficult to access and creating an unpleasant odour.

national NGOs,” said Mark Smith, World Vision’s Vice President of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs.

For her part, the Chief of the Humanitarian Field Support of UNICEF, Sara Bordas Eddy said “the degradation of true humanitarian needs in Haiti is unprecedented”.

Despite the difficulties, UN and NGO officials noted that the humanitarian response continues to intensify and pledged to provide more support to aid workers on the ground. (Excerpt from CMC)