PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, April 19 (UPI) -- Haiti is appealing to member nations of the Caribbean Community, or Caricom, for help in its ongoing food price crisis, Haitian officials said.

President Rene Preval asked Caricom countries for an unspecified amount of financial aid, Haitian radio reported, following last week's protests over rising food costs.

Prices for staples like rice have double in the last year, prompting demonstrations that left five people dead last week.

Preval said shortly after the protests the Haitian government would subsidize some basic foods until the country could begin producing more food supplies at home and rely less on costlier imports.