UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSING EMERGENCY HEALTH NEEDS IN HAITI

UNITED NATIONS ADDRESSING EMERGENCY HEALTH NEEDS IN HAITI

NEW YORK, 16 March (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) -- United Nations humanitarian agencies and their implementing partners are scaling up their operations to meet the emergency health needs of Haitians affected by the recent crisis there.

Yesterday, the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) replenished the reserves of the hospitals in Gonaïves which had been looted.  A convoy from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP) and several non-governmental organization partners is scheduled to travel to the north coast city of Cap Haïtien to deliver food and medicines later this week.  An assessment of vaccine stocks is now ongoing countrywide.  It is essential at this stage to guarantee safety in health centres and hospitals, as well as to enhance the capacity of public health institutions to assist the poorest patients.

The WHO and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) are continuing distribution of 10,000 health kits for two hospitals in Port-au-Prince.  More medicines and medical supply are also on the way to a paediatric hospital in the capital.  The WHO and PAHO are also delivering fuel to some public health institutions in Port-au-Prince.

Overall, the situation in Haiti is calm, but still volatile.  Security remains a priority concern.  There is still sporadic shooting and looting.  Sporadic demonstrations in the streets continue, particularly in Port-au-Prince.

Movement of goods and people along the three main roads from Port-au-Prince to Gonaïves and CapeHaïtien, to the border with the Dominican Republic, and to Hinche, has resumed, though security conditions remain precarious.  In many places, public transport functions normally and schools are open.  Economic activities seem to be resuming again.  In Gonaives, however, gas stations remain closed, and food assistance is urgently needed.

On 9 March, the United Nations launched a flash appeal for Haiti seeking  $35 million to meet emergency humanitarian needs of some 3 million people affected by the recent violence.  Through the appeal, United Nations humanitarian agencies and their partners are seeking to address a lack of medicine, vaccines, and consumable goods, caused in part by looting during recent violence.  Humanitarian partners are working to reopen public health centres -- including those serving persons with HIV/AIDS -- that could not function during the height of the crisis.  For example, the UniversityHospital in Port-au-Prince was not functional for nearly three months.  Throughout the country, hospitals and health centres were closed for several weeks, despite the extended network of medical doctors provided by the Cuban aid programme.

Nearly one third -- some $11 million -- of the funds sought through the appeal are for interventions in the health sector.

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHA New York,  tel. (917) 367-5126, mobile: (917) 892-1679; Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel. 41 22 917 2653, mobile 41(0) 79 473 4570.

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