Watch CBS News

Tens Of Thousands Homeless, Hungry In Haiti After Matthew

Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter

MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Haiti continues to struggle to recover from Hurricane Matthew's devastating blow.

The then Category 4 hurricane plowed over country with 145 mph winds, leveling wood and tin homes and severely damaging buildings.

Jeff Jeanty, who lives in Jeremie where 80 percent of the building were heavily damage or destroyed, said he was scared for his family.

"So every time the wind would blow, you took all the children and you would cover them," he said, "The were screaming and afraid."

Jeanty said he watched as the roof of the house next to his was blown off.

"The first house, the roof was lift," he said. "I called them, come in here, come in here. Then they come in"

More than 60,000 people are homeless and living in temporary shelters. The storm is believed to have killed 900 people in Haiti.

Related: Activists Call Haitian Deportation Policy "Abomination"

Food is scarce. Matthew destroyed the country's crops, putting pressure on food resources.

The government has said about 350,000 are in need of aid.

Jeanty said the government has done very little to help them.

Following wide spread flooding, a new problem has arisen - cholera.

Doctors Without Borders said there were at least 18 cases of cholera at the Jeremie hospital and and at least 13 people have died from it.

U.N. emergency relief coordinator Stephen O'Brien called the hurricane's damage a major blow to Haiti's reconstruction effort and the fight against cholera.

The government has said about 350,000 are in need of aid.

In South Florida, several collection sites have been set up to collect donations from people wishing to help.

Over the weekend, canned goods, rice, beans, diapers and baby food were collected at City of Miami fire houses.

On Tuesday, all Miami-Dade County public schools will begin a collection for donations and supplies for those in Haiti affected by Hurricane Matthew. This isn't the first time the superintendent and the school system has collaborated with the church to help those in the island nation.

After the 2010 earthquake that killed thousands in the country, Miami-Dade Public Schools came to their side then, as well.

Visit the Man Dodo foundation's website for more information on how you can help.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.