San Juan, October 2 (RHC)-- In Puerto Rico, a humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold 12 days after Hurricane Maria struck the island.  

Over the weekend, the Pentagon said the percentage of Puerto Rico’s 3.5 million residents without access to clean drinking water rose to 55 percent.  Only five percent of the island has electricity, while food and fuel remain scarce and about half of the island’s roads are impassable. 

Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump strongly criticized the mayor of San Juan and other Puerto Rican officials, claiming that there is "poor leadership" and implying that Puerto Ricans are lazy.   

Mayor Carmen Yulín Cruz said that she cannot understand why "the greatest nation in the world cannot figure out logistics for a small island of 100 miles by 35 miles long," calling on Trump to "make sure somebody is in charge that is up to the task of saving lives."