SITUATION REPORT FROM UNICEF IN HAITI

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Letter from Unicef Denmark's Secretary General, accompanying the Unicef

 

18-01-2010: Situation Report from UNICEF in HAITI (see below)

 

From: Steen M. Andersen, UNICEF Denmark ([email protected])

Sent: 18 January 2010 at 17:10:46

To: Nancy Kirsten Boysen

 

Dear Nancy Kirsten Boysen

 

As you know, the earthquake in Haiti has caused massive destruction and hundreds of thousands of wounded and traumatized children who need emergency relief. The disaster has now reached a scale that calls for extraordinary measures - from relief workers in Haiti and from us in UNICEF Denmark collecting money for relief efforts.

Therefore we decided to share the latest Situation Report from UNICEF with you so that you are updated with the latest information from the disaster area in Haiti. You will find the Situation Report at the bottom of this email.

The report describes UNICEF's relief efforts in detail and gives you a first hand impression of some of the work being done to save the lives of up to two million children who are at risk.

Thanks to all who have already supported the collection of funds to help the Haitian children. You can still make a contribution / donate money on UNICEF Denmark's homepage.

 

Best regards

 

Steen M. Andersen

Secretary General, UNICEF Denmark

 

(I translated the letter whereas the Unicef Situation Report was in English)

 

 

HAITI EARTHQUAKE: UNICEF SITUATION REPORT

 

17 January 2010

 

PORT AU PRINCE

 

- The Government has declared the state of emergency for 15 days. This will help to exceptional administrative measures to be taken. A mourning period of one month has also been declared.

 

- On January 15, WFP distributed, among others, High Energy biscuits for 5 days, bags for water storage and purifying tablets. High energy biscuits present stock covers the needs of 200,000 families for 15 days; more is expected to arrive.

 

- There are already 4 secured and permanent points of distribution in town (place Dessalines, 2 football grounds and one tennis court). More secured distribution points are being identified. However, any organization can fix its own distribution points, provided that security is assured.

 

- The Government has been able to progressively run the School Canteens National Program, having recovered part of its staff and food stock: wet rations have begun to be distributed in Champs de Mars camp.

 

- The Ministry of Social Affairs will put in place mobile teams to assess the situation and needs of children in the camps. As well, the Institute of Social Wellbeing is trying to reinforce its present at the airport.

 

- The Government has set up different work commissions, among them the one on fuel. Beginning from January 16, fuel has been delivered to a few gas stations downtown in small quantity.

 

- Situation in the camps (parks, grounds, courtyards, etc.) is still calm to date, though highly critical. However, security concerns are rising fast. Armed groups are beginning to loot and rob during the night.

 

- As banks are closed and people lost most of their belongings, cash (money) circulation is extremely limited, hindering access to food. Some fruit and vegetable arrives from the countryside, but people do not have money to buy.

 

THE UN IN HAITI

 

- Challenges of organization and extreme difficulty of coordination are characterizing the UN response to the situation and to the increasing needs of the population, the government, and its own UN staff. Coordination and efficacy is improving.

 

- The Food Aid Cluster has been officially begun to work. The first meeting of the Education Cluster will be held on January 18.

 

- UNICEF is leading the WASH, Education and Nutrition Clusters (to be established).

 

- A website with updated information related to response, priorities and gaps of each Cluster or sector will be available, beginning from January 18. OCHA will receive inputs up to 12 pm daily in order to upload the information.

 

http://www.haiti.oneresponse.info On January 18. OCHA is holding a meeting with all the Cluster Heads to explain the website use and subscription.

 

 

UNICEF IN HAITI

 

- Organization of the operations is being improved, with definition of tasks for every staff as well as rotation in the camp base.

 

- UNICEF warehouse was partially damaged by t he quake. Presently availability of stocks is being analyzed.

 

- Two trucks are operational: one for WASH and the second one for the management of the supplies arriving to the airport that need to be stored before distribution.

 

- A joint mission UNICEF/WFP/WHO will leave on January 18 to assess the situation and needs in Petit Goave. UNICEF staff will be temporarily posted there, covering also Grande Goave, if needed.

 

 

CHILD PROTECTION

 

It is becoming evident that the earthquake, besides its toll of deaths, has left many children wounded, traumatized, stranded and/or orphaned. UNICEF has reinforced the partnership with NGOs as well as the Institut de Bienêtre Social (Ministry of Social Affairs).

 

- Partnership with AMI (Aide Médicale Internationale) will continue to assure medical care to children in different mobile clinics in all Port au Prince zones.

 

- AVSI has resumed the psychosocial support to children in the poorest areas of the capital city, often together with AMI. UNICEF is reinforcing this partnership in Petit Goave et Cabaret.

 

- UNICEF is supporting Save The Children in tracing the families of stranded children. SCF will also estimate the magnitude and situation of the migration from Port au Prince to the areas of Gonaïve et Leogane.

 

- Effects of people moving to Lekaye is underway by Terre des Hommes.

 

- The mobile teams of the Institut de Bienêtre Social of the Ministry of Social Affairs are assessing the state of the orphanages and crèches in Port au Prince. As well, two buildings are being evaluated for temporarily sheltering about 200 children in need. One of them has the clearance to shelter up to 55 children.

 

- MINUSTAH committed to visit all the hospitals to check for abandoned or stranded children in need of help and shelter.

 

 

WASH

 

- On January 16, forty (40) water tanks delivered drinkable water covering the needs of some 60,000 people in 19 sites. On January 17, it is planned that 82 trucks provide water to 36 points for approximately 80,000 people.

 

- The main challenge is assuring enough fuel for the trucks to run. UNICEF is providing 1,000 gallons to DINEPA (Direction National Eau Potable et Assainissement), and expecting 4 more trucks of 30,000 gallons coming from the Dominican Republic.

 

- 120,000 bottles of water are expected to be distributed to different hospitals and commissaries.

 

- The DINEPA (Direction National Eau Potable et Assainissement) has very strong capacity in terms of leadership, producing results and coordinating the sector. The different actors and contributors report directly to DINEPA. UNICEF has officially assumed the role of supporting its staff and work.

 

 

- The presence and contribution of the NGOs is very important. The main partners are OXFAM, MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières), Action Contre la Faim, RED CROSS.

 

 

- DINEPA and the WASH Cluster defined that the main strategy is to set up high capacity bladders in the neighborhoods of the gathering points. Water purification should be done on site. Bladders will be managed and protected by staff paid by the NGOs at a defined daily pay.

 

- The private sector is highly committed to help and is ready to deliver 8 million liters of clean water per day.

 

 

- At present, the MOST URGENT NEEDS are: a) FUEL for transportation /delivery; b) CHLORINE for purification; c) WATER QUALITY testing equipment; d) Pods / timber for latrine constructions.

 

 

UPDATE FROM JACMEL

 

One UNICEF staff is presently posted in Jacmel city and the situation there is as follows:

 

- 356 deaths in the south-western districts, 332 of them in Jacmel city. Number is expected to increase as there are still many people under the debris. A school and a church have collapsed burying more than 150 persons. 420 wounded have been registered at date.

 

- Nearly 12,000 families were affected by the quake; 8,000 people are living in the camps (6,000 in Jacmel and 2,000 in Cote Fer). Displaced people have gathered in 3 sites (camps) in Jacmel, as well in 2 sites in Cote de Fer.

 

- 8,335 houses were damaged, more than 2,500 among them completely destroyed. Many private, public and commercial buildings need to be completely re-built.

 

- 43 schools either collapsed or damaged, as well as six health infrastructures.

 

- 63 new injured were hospitalized; 21 patients need to be urgently evacuated. UNICEF Santo Domingo is negotiating with the Dominican Republic’s authorities.

 

- Hospital Saint Michel was relocated in the grounds of a church.

 

- The Red Cross installed four 10,000-liter water bladders in the hospital, school and Pinchinat camp. Both MINUSTAH and private-owned trucks organized by UNICEF assured water provision for the bladders.

 

- Wet rations are being distributed in the camps, where people gather to spend the night. Probably half of the people who is in Pinchinat camp will be relocated.

 

- WFP and UNICEF have made emergency stocks available in ACDI VOCA stores, as well as in the towns of Thiott and Ricot for the population of Cote Fer

 

- WFP is currently estimating the number of children in order to provide specific rations.

 

- Camps management is particularly complicated and hinders distribution flow, as well as protection and surveillance of children. However, the municipality is progressively taking the lead with the collaboration of local NGOs.

 

Problems and needs:

 

- Camps management is particularly complicated and hinders distribution flow, as well as protection and surveillance of children. Sanitation is an issue. Locally working NGOs are facing a severe shortage of materials and tools.

 

- Social and psychological support not yet available.

 

- Urgent need of water purifying tools and materials.. Water supply from local nappes was discontinued for fear of contamination. Water provision was assured only by MINUSTAH’s trucks.

 

- Additional tents for Saint Michel Hospital. Blood bags, medial supplies and drugs.

 

- Need for detailed assessment of health and education structures. Regional authorities of health, education and protection are starting to participate in the coordination, however, their participation is still weak.

 

- Latrines building in Pinchinat is affected by the lack of tools and materials. Hygiene kits are not sufficient to cover the needs.

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