A charity run by a Bermudian has appealed for financial aid to help provide food for Haiti, which is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis.

Phillip Rego, who launched the Feed My Lambs Ministry in 2009 to serve the people of Haiti, said conditions there are the worst he has seen.

The impoverished Caribbean nation is suffering food, fuel and water shortages while the Government is calling for international military assistance.

The United Nations says it is witnessing catastrophic hunger, with 4.7 million Haitians facing acute food insecurity.

It is reporting that gangs are targeting women, children and the elderly as a form of warfare and that there is an outbreak of cholera.

Mr Rego, whose charity supports a school, orphanage, university and clinic in Haiti, said: “It is the worst I have ever seen it in the 13 years I have been involved.

“What they really need is food. I am trying to talk to people to see if they can generate a container of food, but until then we need financial donations.

“If we can raise funds, I can buy rice and beans, and other non-perishable foods and then donate it — I am trying to keep people alive.

“It is dangerous, I am not there now but I want to get out there. We have 700 people in the school to feed, 63 in the orphanage, 19 at the university and all the people involved cooking, the gatemen, I have 37 staff to feed.

“We can’t take volunteer groups to Haiti because it is too unsafe now. I have to come up with ideas to keep Haiti on the map.

“We are going to try to raise money — we have been shipping constantly six containers a year but now we have to find another shipper.

“It is a compound problem. I see a big problem coming. Canada and the US has sent some army tanks because people are killing people constantly.”

The crisis is being caused by the blockade of a major fuel terminal by armed gangs. The blockade, which began in September, has resulted in most transport being halted, creating shortages of basic goods, including clean water.

Protests led by the gangs followed an announcement by Haitian prime minister Ariel Henry that the Government was cutting fuel subsidies.

The gangs have expanded their control over the country's territory since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse last year.

Anyone wishing to donate funds can do so via the following Feed My Lambs Ministry bank accounts.

Clarien Bank Bermuda account: 6000-253-102

Clarien Bank US account: 6000-253-095