Hurricane Isaac hits Haiti ? ActionAid is there responding to peoples needs

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Tropical Storm Isaac has hit Haiti's southern peninsula, causing flooding and killing at least 19 people. There has been wide scale electricity black outs in the capital Port -au Prince and many roads remain blocked due to falling trees and minor flooding. Communications networks in the countryside have also been affected by the hurricane. ActionAid Haiti works in six areas across Haiti, including Jacmel and Thiotte in the southeast, where our local partner is in the process of responding to the needs of those affected. Our local teams on the ground will also be carrying out a detailed assessments of people's needs which will inform any plans to scale up our response. The impact of the storm killed 19 people, with several others still missing according to official figures released by the government of Haiti. The south east of the country appears to have been worst hit, with farmers there losing fields of crops including, beans and plantains. It is feared these crop losses could lead to greater food insecurity in the region and beyond. Haiti is already one of the poorest countries in the world. One of the main concerns now is the threat of cholera spreading. An estimated 600,000 cases of the disease - and 7,500 deaths - have been registered in Haiti since late 2010, a few months after the devastating earthquake from which the country is still recovering. ActionAid Haiti is working with local organisations and communities themselves to ensure that women's rights are protected in the aftermath of the storm. As part of our ongoing work with people affected by the 2010 earthquake, we're supporting communities to recover from the impact of this latest disaster and helping them protect themselves from future crises.