WASHINGTON, United States (CMC) — The International Moentary Fund (IMF) says it is prepared to assist Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries affected by the passage of Hurricane Matthew that left more than 300 people dead in Haiti.

The storm, regarded as one of the most powerful to hit the region since 2007, also caused widespread damage in the French-speaking Caricom country as well as in The Bahamas as it made its way through the Caribbean.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, expressing the Fund’s “deep concern and sympathy for the countries affected by Hurricane Matthew” said that she is also saddened “by the reports of lives lost and widespread destruction.

“Several countries have suffered damage from the storm, including Colombia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and The Bahamas.

“Haiti, which is still recovering from a catastrophic earthquake six year ago, appears to have suffered some of the worst effects of the storm. We are very concerned by reports of extensive loss of life, flooding, and destruction, particularly in the south-western part of the country that received the strongest impact from Hurricane Matthew.”

She said the Washington-based financial institution “stands ready to help the authorities of member countries as they deal with the aftermath of this catastrophe”.

The World Bank has already said it is providing assistance to Haiti.

“Our staff on the ground are already working with the Ministry of Public Works to begin restoring access to the hardest hit areas in the south of the country, including a key bridge that was washed away. It is too early to know the full impact of the storm, as some of the most vulnerable communities live along the coast and cannot yet be reached,” said World Bank President Jim Yong Kim.