Haiti: Aid Trucks Looted As UN Chief Assesses Hurricane Damage

Angry Haitians looted aid trucks as the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, visited parts of the country hit by hurricane Matthew, which killed 900 people.

Mr Ban, while urging countries to donate more, said he witnessed the looting incident in Les Cayes, where he had promised more aid to Haiti.

Haitian Police and UN peacekeepers used tear gas to disperse a group of 100 residents who attacked the humanitarian convoys on Saturday.

Officials say more than 1.4 million people urgently need humanitarian help. Meanwhile, there are also fears of a cholera outbreak, with spikes in cases and deaths reported in the south west.

The waterborne disease reached the island via Nepalese UN troops after the deadly earthquake in 2010, causing the deaths of nearly 10,000 people.

Tensions has been high as help has yet to reach many families whose crops and water supplies have been destroyed.

However, Mr Ban in an attempt to put the people at ease said, “We understand the impatience and the anger of the population who are waiting for emergency relief.

“We are doing all we can to facilitate the arrival of the assistance as soon as possible,” Mr Ban said.

He flew over areas hit by the hurricane, alongside Prime Minister Enex Jean-Charles and expressed sadness over the situation.

“I was very very sad when we saw the complete devastation. But people the world over, stand with you.

“We are going to mobilize as many resources and as much medical support as we can, to first of all stop the cholera epidemic and second support the families of the victims,” the UN Chief added.