The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said today that more funds are urgently needed to assist people affected by Hurricane Jeanne in Haiti and Bahamas .

In and around the northern city of Gonaïves , Haiti , at least half the population is estimated to be in urgent need of food, water and shelter. The International Federation is appealing for more funds to avert a humanitarian crisis there.

Some 200,000 people in Gonaïves were affected by Tropical Storm Jeanne, losing their homes, belongings or livelihoods. Some are still living on rooftops. There is a serious risk of epidemics, given that latrines and other sanitation facilities have been flooded and many people remain without access to clean drinking water. Jeanne left over 1,500 people dead and 2,600 injured, while more than 1,000 are still unaccounted for.

"The scale of the disaster is so great that emergency relief will be required for several months to come. The people in Haiti need adequate shelter, food, health services and sanitation for the foreseeable future," said Santiago Gil, head of the International Federation's Americas department.

The International Federation launched a revised appeal fro Haiti for 11.6 million Swiss francs, a significant increase on the initial appeal for four million Swiss francs sought by the International Federation on September 22. This appeal will support the response of the Haiti Red Cross in assisting 50,000 people for six months. The Red Cross operation will be concentred in Gonaïves and nearby towns and villages.

To deal with the urgent issue of clean water, the French and Spanish Red Cross have deployed two specialised emergency response units (ERU). The French Red Cross ERU is now producing 200,000 litres of treated water a day, or one third of the actual needs.

Gonaïves' main hospital and over 90 per cent of the city's clinics were destroyed by the disaster. To boost the health care capacity, a joint Norwegian and Canadian Red Cross 100-bed field hospital has been deployed. The Spanish Red Cross Water ERU is supplying this hospital as well as other areas of Gonaïves.

Funds from the International Federation's appeal will also help to ensure the continued functioning of vital services provided to the population by the Haitian Red Cross, a crucial part of civil society in the Caribbean state, and to strengthen its capacity to respond to future emergencies in this desperately poor and disaster-prone country. The Federation, the International Committee of Red Cross, and sister Red Cross Societies already operational in Haiti continue to coordinate closely in their support of the Haitian National Red Cross Society.

Another country badly hit by Jeanne was the Bahamas , and to support the relief operation started by the Bahamas Red Cross, the International Federation has launched an appeal for 958,000 Swiss francs. This amount will assist 15,000 people, mainly Haitian immigrants, over the coming three months. The immediate needs are for food, kitchen sets, hygiene articles and plastic tarpaulins.

"Red Cross volunteers and staff have been working non-stop since the hurricane season started in June. We have responded to every single hurricane and tropical storm that has affected the region in recent months, from Charlie to Jeanne, and we will continue to do so," Gil adds .