Contact: Jill Watson, 305-448-5111

MIAMI, Oct. 4, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Malteser International Americas, a Miami-based global humanitarian relief agency, today announced emergency relief measures for children and families in Haiti who are suffering from the devastating flooding of Hurricane Matthew.

The Category 4 hurricane slashed through Haiti early Tuesday morning, unleashing 145 MPH winds and nearly 40 inches of rain in the already impoverished and vulnerable country.

"With staff already on-the-ground in Port-au-Prince, we are mobilizing efforts in the areas of most concern, specifically to the community of Cite Soleil, where the floods have been most damaging," said Ravi Tripptrap, Executive Director of Malteser International Americas.

In Cite Soleil, a poverty-stricken community forgotten by the world, the floods have caused toxic sewage canals to overflow. Garbage and human waste have burst into the streets and into living quarters. Other make-shift shanty homes have been washed away.

The community lies at the base of a mountain in a flood prone basin. Lacking proper infrastructure, the community of nearly a half of a million is essentially built on other people's waste. Once the flood waters recede, the concern of diseases, such as cholera, increases greatly.

"Families have been broken. Homes have been washed away, leaving thousands homeless. Already malnourished people will be even hungrier. Fresh water is needed and sanitation systems are overwhelmed. Children are living in muck. And, they need your help," said Kathrin Jewert, Program Coordinator of Malteser International Americas, on-the-ground in Haiti.

This is not just another disaster for the Malteser International Americas. For the last 6.5 years, the organization has worked alongside local Haitians in the country helping over 100,000 people to rebuild their lives and build futures following the devastating 2010 earthquake. To date, the Catholic relief agency of the Order of Malta has invested over $12 million in emergency relief and reconstruction efforts.

To reach the hardest hit areas, Malteser International Americas is working very closely with local partner organizations on the ground in Cité Soleil (La Différence, UJEDCOCIS, RRHCIPROG, PENAH) in order to give first relief and to help rebuilding after the hurricane has passed.

Malteser International is urgently calling for donations to aid critical relief and rehabilitation measures, and to help rebuild lives in the wake of Hurricane Matthew: orderofmaltarelief.org/donation

About Us: Malteser International Americas is a global humanitarian organization with a mission of supporting the vulnerable and marginalized so that they may live a healthy life with dignity. Through our U.S. headquarters, Malteser International Americas provides immediate disaster response and preparedness as well as vital healthcare and nutrition to vulnerable people in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean.