DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

Haitian President Rene Preval has called the situation in the north of the country "catastrophic" after Tropical Storm Hanna flooded large parts of the city of Gonaives. The death toll from floods in Haiti has risen to more than 130 following the third storm that has hit the Caribbean state within 21 days. United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti say 250,000 people are affected and they are trying to ease the crisis by distributing food in boats. Aid workers say the region's poorest country will need a major relief effort to recover. Hanna is now bearing towards the US southeastern coast.