Aid Reaches Thousands of Earthquake Survivors in Haiti

February 2, 2010| PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI — Three weeks after the 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck parts of western Haiti, Action Against Hunger | ACF-International is providing displaced families with access to food, water and sanitation in hard-hit neighborhoods of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. In spite of gasoline shortages, airport delays and other logistical limitations, the international humanitarian organisation has assisted thousands of people left homeless and in dire need of life-sustaining supplies. (Article cont'd below)

Targeted Food Distributions

As the risk of acute malnutrition grows in Haiti, ACF is distributing high-protein biscuits to families with children under five, who are most vulnerable to the life-threatening condition. To date, Action Against Hunger has handed out 26 tons of vitamin-laden BP5 biscuits to over 13,000 people. By working in close cooperation with the neighbourhood communities established in the camps, ACF is working to ensure efficient and safe distributions.

In cooperation with the World Food Programme, Oxfam, and the National Food Security Coordination Unit, Action Against Hunger is also carrying out a rapid assessment of the food security situation in affected areas to determine immediate and longer-term needs of the population.

More Supplies Arriving

A cargo plane carrying emergency supplies landed in Santo Domingo on Friday to reinforce ACF’s emergency relief efforts. This chartered flight, the organisation’s fourth since the quake, carried additional emergency food, and water and sanitation supplies, including 4,200 sheets, 14,000 blankets, 30 tons of BP5 biscuits, water taps and additional bladder tanks. Five ACF vehicles are currently en-route from the Dominican Republic to Haiti.

Action Against Hunger has implemented programmes in Haiti since 1985, focusing primarily on food security and water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in both emergency and recovery contexts in Port de Paix, Gonaives, Anse Rouge and Jeremiah.

Action Against Hunger has launched a public emergency appeal. Call 08456 003618 or click here

• 25th January - Action Against Hunger working to prevent malnutrition among quake survivors

• 20th January - Action Against Hunger extends programmes to towns outside Port-au-Prince
  
  
• 17th January - Emergency Water and Sanitation Programmes Launched in Haiti
  
  

• 16th January - Action Against Hunger is preparing to distribute drinking water to over 35,000 quake survivors
  
  

• 15th January - Haiti emergency: Access to Water and Sanitation Urgently needed
  
  

• 14th January - Haiti earthquake: Action Against Hunger's teams are on the ground mounting an emergency response