Earthquake in Haiti: Action Against Hunger mounts emergency response

13th January 2010, PORT AU PRINCE - International humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger | ACF International is putting in motion an emergency response to help the survivors of the devastating earthquake which struck Haiti yesterday. An emergency response team is on its way to reinforce the 100 ACF field workers already on the ground, and additional emergency supplies, including water and sanitation relief equipment and food supplies will be dispatched soon. 

ACF’s immediate priority is to ensure its entire staff is safe. The organisation’s offices were badly damaged, many of its supplies have been destroyed and communication channels are down. ACF teams on the ground have begun assessing the damage and evaluating the needs of the survivors. ACF is also preparing to transport relief supplies, such as water treatment supplies, vehicles and communications equipment from Gonaives to Port au Prince. 

“Current conditions make it extremely difficult to assess the extent of the damage in the country’s capital, Port au Prince,” said Action Against Hunger’s Executive Director, Jean Michel Grand. But for a country already contending with endemic poverty and an insufficient water and sanitation infrastructure, the effects of this earthquake are catastrophic. “Our teams are extremely concerned for the survivors’ welfare, particularly, access to safe drinking water and food supplies. Chronic malnutrition rates in the country are already high, and it is likely that food supplies have been destroyed.” 

The humanitarian organisation has implemented programmes in Haiti since 1985, carrying out emergency measures in the areas of health and nutriton. Since 2001, ACF has focused primarily on food security and water, sanitation and hygiene programmes in both emergency and development contexts in Port de Paix, Gonaives, Anse Rouge and Jeremiah.