Haiti Prime Minister Lamothe appeals for emergency assistance in Sandy aftermath

AP – The government of Haiti is calling on other countries and international organizations to provide emergency humanitarian aid after Hurricane Sandy caused major damage to the impoverished nation.

The eye of the storm passed west of Haiti the night of October 24. But its rain-heavy outer bands soaked the southern coast and capital for much of that week, causing many rivers to overflow. Authorities say the storm destroyed 70 percent of the crops in Haiti’s south and caused widespread deaths of livestock.

Officials say that as many as 54 people died and as many as 1.6 million people were adversely affected by the storm.

The office of prime minister Laurent Lamothe announced the appeal on Sunday.

Haiti is still struggling to recover from a devastating earthquake nearly two years ago.