飓风仙蒂可能造成海地粮食短缺

 

Aid workers and officials are also warning that flooding could lead to a sharp rise in cholera¹（霍乱） cases. 

 

Sandy is blamed for some 70 deaths in the Caribbean. Of these more than 50 were in Haiti. 

 

In Jamaica and Cuba, which took direct hits from the hurricane, the clean-up is also continuing. 

 

Sandy, which was a category one hurricane when it clipped Haiti last week, brought heavy rain and flooding. 

 

At least 54 people died in what Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe called a "disaster of major proportions".

 

There is concern that floods and unsanitary conditions could led to an increase in cholera cases. 

 

More than 7,500 people have died in the cholera epidemic² in Haiti since late 2010. Hundreds of new cases are still being registered every week.

 

Another big worry is the damage to the agriculture sector³.

 

More than 70% of crops - including bananas, plantains and maize⁴ - were destroyed in the south of the country, officials said. 

 

Food insecurity, particularly in this part of Haiti, was already a major concern. 

 

Rising food prices have in the past triggered at times violent demonstrations⁵ in Haiti. 

 

In Jamaica, Sandy caused extensive damage to crops, including coffee and bananas. 

 

Dozens of houses were destroyed and many more damaged. 

 

"Even before the hurricane we faced serious economic challenges. This has been made worse by the passage of Hurricane Sandy," Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller⁶ said.

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