12 September 2008

The UN estimates that 800,000 people, almost 10% of the impoverished Caribbean country’s population, are in dire need of emergency assistance. Tens of thousands of houses have been damaged and the entire harvest for this season has been destroyed.

“The whole country is under water." ActionAid’s country director in Haiti, Raphael Yves Pierre called for the government, community organisations and the international community to address the environmental causes of the frequent, severe flooding which afflicts the country.

“It is time for the country to take its environment seriously. We cannot allow our children to remain at the mercy of the winds,” Yves Pierre said.

Our response
The extent of the damage is still unknown, as severe damage to roads and bridges, as well as the communications infrastructure has made accessing the damaged areas difficult.

ActionAid Haiti has prepared three teams to carry out rapid assessments of the affected areas. Immediate needs include food, water, medicine, sanitation and shelter. For ActionAid, one of the most important steps in restoring normal life in shattered communities will be to get children back to school.

The UN has launched a Flash Appeal for over US$ 100 million, a figure which reflects the severity of the situation.

We continue to focus our attention on those who are most vulnerable; women, children, the elderly and disabled.

photo : ©REUTERS/Evens Felix (HAITI)