SA team lends helping hand in Haiti
A local humanitarian organisation, Al Imdaad Foundation says it's already deployed a team of ten members on the ground in Haiti where the death toll from Hurricane Matthew has passed 1000.
The storm struck last Tuesday with winds of more than 225 kilometres an hour.
Al Imdaad Foundation's Ziaad Patel says they've completed an assessment and have already started delivering emergency relief aid as they did in 2010 when an earthquake struck the same area, killing 200 000 people.
Patel says they have experience in working in Haiti despite the country's poor infrastructure.
"Our foundation does not work like a helicopter operation. We don;t come to an area, make some noise, blow some dust and leave. We want to try and assist people in the best efficient manner that we can. Even before Hurricane Matthews, the people of Haiti have assist people the best efficint manner that we could. Even before Hurricane Matthew, the people of Haiti were very much impoverished," he said.
The hurricane's devastation of Haiti has prompted the US government to temporarily suspend deportations of undocumented Haitians.
#Water, food, shelter and sanitation are vital to assist the most affected by #StormMatthew pic.twitter.com/g3G9BedDdP
— Al-Imdaad UK (@Alimdaad_UK) October 11, 2016
2.1 million people affected. 750,000 in urgent need of assistance. #HurricaneMatthew
— Al-Imdaad UK (@Alimdaad_UK) October 11, 2016
Donate at https://t.co/trmcvgqiXE pic.twitter.com/YvaQddFvBM