The category four Hurricane Matthews has ravaged the Bahamas, Cuba, and more devastatingly Haiti. Haitian authorities have drastically raised the death toll over these past two days. The number of recorded bodies found have most recently come to 268.

Communications across Haiti are heavily limited as a result of storm on Tuesday. Also a key bridge connecting the capital, Port-au-Prince, to the rest of the southern region of the country collapsed in the storm. This has tightened movement and evaluation of aid to the Sud and Grand’Anse departments.

In Jérémie, the largest town within the Grand’Anse department has immediately suffered from a hunger crisis. This came after Hurricane Matthews 145 mph winds accompanied by torrential rains ‘decimated’ the region’s agricultural fields, stated by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS).

The biggest issues concerning Haitian authorities, such interior minister, Ariel Henry, is that of water and food for the people of Haiti. The Hurricane has flattened crops, has left water treatment facilities destroyed, and wells overrun by seawater. Many citizens resulting to consuming coconut water.  

It has been reported that as many, if not more than 300,000 residents need aid in a country of 11 million. Following the Haiti’s presidential election which was suppose to take place this week has been pushed back as a result to this devastation. The question in the government’s role in being capable in bringing aid to its people has also been brought to attention. This comes after all the way back the 2010 earthquake when aid programs had took up lead in supplying aid. In response to these claims Haitian authorities have specified that they shall be leading further aid efforts.

On Wednesday it had been made said that nine U.S. military helicopters would been directed to Haiti in response to the country’s call to aid, following the devastation left by Hurricane Matthews. These helicopters serve for medical evacuations, search and rescue operations, and transferring supplies to an airport in the nation’s capital, Port-au-Prince. Following the Pentagon is to send a navy admiral to assist in humanitarian relief, along with a about a few hundred military personnel.

The death count is still not certain and authorities have made it clear it’s to rise. Though more important, comes how can those left alive be aided, suffering both from hunger, thirst and without proper sheltering. Also comes the question how the nation shall manage moving forward, coming its new election and rising issues following this catastrophic storm.