By Sarah Maraschky | Communications Associate
Just four weeks since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, information about the full impact of the disaster is still difficult to quantify. Representatives from the Government of Haiti (GOH), donors, and UN agencies continue to work together to conduct aerial and ground assessments, a significant challenge given the extent of damage to transportation and communications infrastructure.
While the full scale of the damage in Haiti is still unclear, reports from DPC (Haiti Civil Protection) estimate that more than 136 thousand families have been affected, and nearly 22 thousand people are reported to be staying in temporary shelters after some 130 thousand homes were damaged or destroyed. The death toll climbed significantly to at least two thousand, though many rural areas have still not been reached by assessment teams.
With travel by road restricted by damage from the earthquake, Peace Winds’ Emergency Response Team arrived in Les Cayes to find that much of the city center was severely damaged and shopping areas had collapsed. Since Les Cayes is the only city where people have access to necessities like banks, supermarkets, and pharmacies, Peace Winds and other NGOs have been concerned about potential lack of access to emergency supplies for people in need. Additional concerns include a lack of access to health facilities and safe drinking water and sanitation due to damaged infrastructure, especially for vulnerable populations such as persons with disabilities and orphans.
For the past years, Peace Winds has successfully implemented community resilience programs in three communes in southern Haiti, helping community members gain technical skills and hygiene knowledge and practices. In the wake of the devastating earthquake on August 14, Peace Winds’ 14 disaster resilient community centers in the South Department were employed as emergency shelters where displaced Haitians have been given a safe place to stay.
Over the coming month, the team will continue its assessment and engagement with local and national authorities and humanitarian organizations. Additional emergency response experts, including a water, sanitation, and hygiene specialist, are en route to Haiti to join Peace Winds’ team in Les Cayes. Thank you so much for continuing to support our work in Haiti as we work to help Haitians rebuild their livelihoods after the most recent disaster.
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