UNICEF focuses response on children in storm-ravaged Haiti

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI, – UNICEF teams are in the field and in Port-au-Prince conducting assessments and preparing to deploy supplies and human resources in addition to those already prepositioned to respond to emergency needs in hardest-hit areas following the passage of Hurricane Tomas.

“Our immediate goal is to assess the impacts of the storm and prioritize our response and coordination efforts to ensure access to adequate sanitation, safe water, and basic health care,” said Ms. Francoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF Representative in Haiti.

“It is also imperative in responding to emergencies such as this that separated and unaccompanied children, who are most at risk during emergencies, are protected and reunited with their families,” added Ms. Gruloos-Ackermans, who assessed the hurricane-stricken area of Jérémie at the south western tip of Haiti.

UNICEF is working with the Department of Civil Protection (DPC) and such UN agencies as WHO, WFP, UNOCHA, as well as on-the-ground partners to respond to the hurricane’s after effects. UNICEF is also engaged with these partners in responding to needs as a result of the January 12 earthquake, which devastated this Caribbean nation.

Hurricane winds and water caused flooding in Haiti’s five southern departments and in other regions including Artibonite, Centre, North West, and the communities of Léogane and Gressier, west of Port-au-Prince. Heavy rains and severe flooding have also occurred in upper Artibonite with as much as one metre of standing water reported in Gonaïves, north of the Artibonite River.

Artibonite and communities in the north-west region of the country have the highest concentration of reported cholera cases.

A focus of UNICEF’s response will be on helping ensure the safe evacuation and relocation of children from flooded areas, safeguarding schools and school supplies, protecting children in IDP camps and orphanages, and on ensuring the continued operation of Cholera Treatment Centres, which are part of measures to prevent further spread of cholera.

Flooding and physical damage caused by the hurricane will further complicate the challenge of responding to the cholera epidemic that emerged just three weeks ago. Extensive flooding and the deterioration of clean water and sanitation supplies and circumstances can create the ideal conditions for spreading the cholera disease further, a risk that UNICEF and partners are addressing in their response plans.

A reported 501 deaths and 7,359 hospitalizations have been attributed to cholera in numerous locations throughout the country, according to latest figures from the Haitian Ministry of Health.

While needs assessments are ongoing, additional supplies are already en route. On Wednesday, UNICEF is expecting a large shipment of supplies, including 1.2 million sachets of oral rehydration salts, more than 8 million water purification tablets, and more than 5,000 tarpaulins for distribution in the most affected areas. Supplies, such as water purification kits, tarpaulins, oral rehydration salts, jerrycans, water purification tablets, and zinc tablets to reduce the effects of diarrhoea, had already been prepositioned in flood-prone areas. On-site assessments will determine the extent of additional needs.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. For more information about UNICEF and its work visit: www.unicef.org