Food scarce in Haiti after hurricane

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UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- More than 1 million people in Haiti face food shortages because of damage from Hurricane Sandy, a senior U.N. humanitarian official said.

Johan Peleman, head of the U.N. Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Haiti, said Friday that 15,000-20,000 people had their homes destroyed or damaged by the hurricane, which swept through the Caribbean area before striking the U.S. East Coast.

The U.N. office noted Haiti experienced a drought this year, in addition to another hurricane, Isaac, which struck the island nation in August.

Peleman added there are 350,000 people living in camps as a result of a 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Access is also a concern because roads have been washed away and outbreaks of water-borne diseases, such as cholera, are anticipated in Haiti, a statement from the U.N. News Center said.