UN Chief Set To Visit Hurricane-hit Haiti To Highlight Needs

PORT-AU-PRINCE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Oct, 2016 ) - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon travels to Haiti on Saturday to visit areas devastated by Hurricane Matthew and highlight the emergency needs of the Caribbean nation.

Ban will conduct an aerial survey of the damage along with Prime Minister Jean-Charles Enex, then visit Les Cayes on Haiti's southern coast -- one of the cities hardest-hit by Matthew -- the UN Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) said in a statement.

During the visit, Ban "will meet with national and local authorities, representatives of affected communities and humanitarian emergency teams." He will then hold a joint press conference with interim president Jocelerme Privert, the statement read.

The United Nations has launched a flash appeal for $120 million to help Haiti cope with its worst humanitarian crisis since the 2010 earthquake. Only $6.1 million has been raised so far, equal to five percent of the total appeal, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said Thursday.

At least 473 people were killed when Matthew crashed ashore on October 4 as a monster Category 4 storm, packing winds of 145 miles (230 kilometers) per hour. Ban said Monday that a "massive response" was needed to cope with the destruction, with 1.4 million people in need of urgent assistance after towns and villages were almost wiped off the map.