Ten people were killed and over 23,600 affected by heavy rains and severe floods in Panama since late November, the United Nations humanitarian affairs bureau said Tuesday.
About half or 11,670 of those hit by the deluge are in temporary shelters, said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Rains are expected to continue this week, and the victims are in need of "food, water and blankets," stressed Byrs.
"Many highways and bridges have been destroyed. 1,165 houses were damaged and about 200 destroyed. A number of communities in Bocas del Toro cannot be reached. Transport and distribution of relief items remain a challenge," she added.
Panama's president has declared a state of emergency for the most affected provinces of Bocas del Toro, Chiriqui and Colon.
Officials said late November that at least four people were killed, six are missing and more than 14,000 affected by the rains.
