PORT-AU-PRINCE. Haiti, Sepi 8; Haiti's de facto government has announced mea-sims aimed at rescuing the economy. which is crashing after almost three years of International sanctions. Radio Metropole reported Saturday, says AP

The cost of living has skyrocketed since the United Nations Imposed an almost total trade embargo on Haiti in May. while the value of the local currency, the gourde, has plummeted.

When the army ousted President Jean-Bertrand Aristide almost three years ago. 7.5 Haitian gourdes were worth one US dollar

Since then, staple food prices have gone up by about 150 per cent — 10 per cent in the last month alone — while at least 100.000 jobs have been lost.

In August, the gourde reached an all-time low of 25 to one dollar on the street.