Haiti: one month on
From search and rescue to long-term recovery.
On January 12, the Caribbean nation of Haiti 鈥� one of the poorest in the western world - was struck by a massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake.
The worst for more than a century, the quake hit south of the capital Port-au-Prince, killing at least 230,000 people 鈥� including many NGO and UN employees, injuring 300,000 and leaving more than 1.5 million others in need of shelter.
One month on, the international aid effort has shifted from search and rescue activity to meeting the basic needs of the survivors in the immediate term and its long-term rehabilitation.
Following life-saving work by the UK search and rescue (SAR) teams - which reached Haiti 48 hours after the quake - DFID is now focused on co-ordinating a complex relief effort to limit delays and anxiety among Haitians.
DFID has already helped get water, food and medical supplies to more than 400,000 people.
There is now the urgent need to provide shelter and sanitation for more than 1 million more people made homeless in Port-au-Prince and rural areas.
From survivors to security
In their 11-day operation in Haiti, the UK search and rescue (SAR) teams pulled four survivors from the wreckage, including two-year-old Mia, buried beneath a nursery school and quickly reunited with her mother.
Two members of the UK government鈥檚 Stabilisation Unit are working with colleagues from the US, the EU and Canada to revive security and justice systems in Haiti with two more expected there this week.
At its peak, Port-au-Prince airport was dealing with 160 flights per day, but that has dropped as more help arrives by sea.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) ship, Largs Bay, is carrying vehicles, port-handling equipment to rebuild ports and corrugated iron to provide shelters for up to 2000 families.
A DFID expert is leading the effort to shelter those affected; providing at least one tarpaulin for every affected family as soon as possible, and replacing them with more resilient shelters before the impending threat of Haiti鈥檚 rainy and hurricane season.
Proud
Head of DFID鈥檚 conflict, humanitarian and security department (CHASE), Phil Marker, said: 鈥溾�淲e can be proud of the response we have mounted so far but there are huge challenges ahead.
鈥淎 lot of the roads are damaged and there is the threat of the rainy season just months away.鈥�
There are shoots of recovery among Haiti鈥檚 shattered lives.
Some schools in unaffected areas have re-opened and the ministry of education is aiming to re-open all schools by the end of March.
More than 1 million people now have a two week rice ration thanks to work by the World Food Programme and DFID has also funded an 11-strong medical team from the Merlin aid agency, specialising in saving injured limbs and crush injuries.
Key facts
- The first of two flights carrying the UK鈥檚 search and rescue team arrived in Haiti 48 hours after the quake.
- DFID鈥檚 funding for Haiti stands at 拢20 million, including 拢2.5 million for three NGOs; ACF (拢1m), Oxfam (拢1m) and Handicap International (拢500,000)
- The UK public has so far pledged 拢77 million for Haiti through the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal.
- UK and international search and rescue workers have brought more than 130 people from the debris.
- DFID has provided 拢300,000 to the World Health Organisation (WHO) for monitoring possible disease epidemics.
- 拢2 million has been given to the World Food Programme for logistics and 拢1 million to the International Federation of the Red Cross for urgent aid to 20,000 families.