Haiti: international aid efforts moving slowly but surely

Sanitation conditions in Haiti are gradually improving thanks to the efforts of aid workers following the earthquake that destroyed the capital Port-au-Prince on 12 January 2010.

UNICEF video on emergency water and sanitation in Haiti

Some examples are:

• The WASH Cluster Haiti Update of 30 January 2010 reports that 292 latrines are under construction across the country, serving a potential 29,000 people.

• Action Against Hunger (ACF) is distributing potable water and food.

• ACF has started to build above-ground latrines and began digging trenches to install the latrines in the Croix Deprez area.

• The International Migration Organization (IOM) is distributing tents, hygiene kits, blankets, jerry cans, plastic sheeting, water bladders and water purifying kits.

• The international aid organization Care is distributing hygiene kits and training survivors to purify contaminated water and will be distributing PUR packets in the coming weeks together with large buckets where water can be purified, soap and sanitary napkins.

• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) ensured a round-the-clock supply of water by trucks to Cité Soleil.

• The World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are already taking steps to waive debts. UK-based charity Oxfam has urged donor countries to have Haiti’s foreign debts cancelled.

Go the Reliefweb site for latest Haiti earthquake water and sanitation updates.
Source: Indiana Corrales, BNamericas.com, [subscription site], 25 Jan 2010 ; OCHA, 31 Jan 2010 ; DFID, 02 Feb 2010 ; ICRC, 29 Jan 2010

Keywords

• Sanitation - Sewerage
• Urban WASH
• Latin America & Caribbean
• Emergencies