Father Rogelio Cruz, the fiery community leader who now works in the dioceses of San Francisco de Macoris, told a television audience that although Jimani suffered more deaths, the northeast of the Dominican Republic suffered more damage and is more vulnerable to hunger and epidemics. Father Cruz warned of starvation and disease, because many of the rural communities in his area are still isolated and have not received any assistance from the authorities. The River Yuna overflowed its banks on 24-25 May, covering the area in water and cutting off dozens of small hamlets from normal supply routes. Small boats are being used to bring in supplies of food, candles and other necessities. The priest also confirmed reports from agriculture officials that thousands of tareas (6 tareas = 1 acre) of rice crops have been flooded out, prompting his warning of a possible shortfall in the national food staple. Finally, the priest called for a massive vaccination campaign in the region, since in raw numbers many more people were affected by the flooding in the Duarte and Maria Trinidad Sanchez provinces than in the area around Jimani.