A LEADING aid agency has said the global response to the devastation wreaked in Haiti by Hurricane Matthew is a disgrace.
About 1.4 million people need immediate support after tens of thousands of homes were demolished or damaged and at least 546 people killed when the tropical storm swept in almost two weeks ago.
Only one fifth of the United Nation's flash appeal for 120 million (£98 million) in aid has been met.
Dominic McSorley, chief executive of Irish development agency Concern Worldwide, spoke out as he visited some of the worst-hit areas and called on world leaders to wake up.
"Nobody should be dying for a lack of money," he said.
"Despite the logistical challenges, this is a country that we have access to. There is no war, no bombs dropping and no excuses. The appeal must be met.
"It is a disgrace that there has not been a more robust response, particularly from the big major donors."
The demand for aid, food and shelter sparked violent scenes as police and peacekeepers fired tear gas to disperse a large crowd trying to intercept trucks carrying food near the town of Les Cayes as UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon flew in.
Cholera, introduced to the country's biggest river by UN peacekeepers several years ago is spreading as a result of the damage wreaked by Hurricane Matthew with fears of an epidemic due to the conditions people are living in.
There have been reports of more than 500 cases of the disease with aid staff warning it could lead to the deaths of hundreds of people.
Concern praised aid supplies airlifted in from Panama by Irish Aid in the days after the hurricane hit, while another 1.5 million euro was pledged.
Mr McSorley said the donors with the deepest pockets are failing Haiti.
"This appeal is urgent, but ultimately we need to get out of this cycle of chaotic crisis response and begin to seriously invest in building the resilience of poor communities to withstand disasters better, thereby saving lives and ultimately saving the massive transaction costs of emergency responses," he said.
