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UN seeks $156 million for Haiti after Hurricane Matthew

Haitians cross a river where a bridge collapsed during Hurricane Matthew, as they begin the grim and messy task of cleaning up.

Haitians cross a river where a bridge collapsed during Hurricane Matthew, as they begin the grim and messy task of cleaning up. Photo: Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty

The United Nations is appealing for $US119 million ($A156 million) to bring life-saving assistance to 750,000 people in southwest Haiti, which is reeling from a direct hit by Hurricane Matthew.

Funds will be used to provide food, clean drinking water and shelter to the most vulnerable after large areas of crops were destroyed and infrastructure damaged last week, the UN said on Monday.

It has launched a three-month appeal to donors for the Caribbean country, with out–going secretary–general Ban Ki Moon calling on the international community to show solidarity and generosity to work together effectively in responding to the emergency.

“Hurricane Matthew has resulted in the largest humanitarian crisis in Haiti since the 2010 earthquake at a time when the country is already facing an increase in the number of cholera cases, and severe food insecurity and malnutrition,” the UN said.

More than a thousand people in the Caribbean died in the devastating storm, which then moved onto the US southeast.

Record flooding there has stranded thousands of people, and at least 22 died.

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