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An interview with Rick Stein
Action Against Hunger interviews seafood luminary Rick Stein, as he prepares to dish up grilled langoustines at the Putney Popup’s ninth event in aid of our Haiti operation. > Read more...
Haiti Fundraiser
Haiti dinner organised by Sabrina Ghayour and UK top chefs raises over £70,000 > Read more...
Earthquake in Haiti
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Haiti: Six Months After the Earthquake
On January 12th, the world watched in horror as a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing an estimated 230,000 people and turning the capital and surrounding areas to rubble. In Haiti for over 25 years, Action Against Hunger was one of the first organisations to respond to the disaster, rushing to provide clean water and deliver emergency services in nutrition, sanitation and hygiene. Today, we assist thousands of Haitian families living in very precarious conditions in some 40 camps throughout Port-au-Prince.
Click on the first picture to view the slide show...
In the aftermath of the earthquake, providing the population with clean drinking water was an urgent priority. Today, 139,000 Port-au-Prince residents have access to enough safe water to meet their daily needs from our 47 distribution points set up in make-shift camps throughout the capital. Large “bladder tanks” are refilled several times a day with 1.38 million liters of clean water trucked in from the outside
To control the risk of disease outbreaks, we rushed to install latrines and train displaced families in emergency hygiene and sanitation practices. We built 850 latrines, complete with hand-washing stations, and our teams are conducting broad public awareness campaigns to prevent the spread of epidemics and keep families safe
Amidst the make-shift camps and rubble-strewn streets of Port-au-Prince, we set up 13 special tents designed to provide mothers and their infants a safe space for breastfeeding, as well as medical, nutritional and psychological support. Today, 2,900 mothers and their infants use the centers, and they are spreading the word among their neighbours
As the risk of life-threatening malnutrition grew among young children in Haiti, we distributed high-protein biscuits to 30,000 children. We also operate four outpatient centres to care for children with severe acute malnutrition, a deadly condition if left untreated
In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake, we began distributing hygiene kits containing essential items—including buckets, soap, tarpaulins and blankets—to earthquake survivors displaced in camps throughout the city. Some 70,000 people have benefitted from our distributions of these basic items
As rubble and waste pile up, threatening public health, we launched “cash-for-work” programmes to clear the streets of debris. So far, 7,300 families have benefitted from these programs, and another 5,000 families affected by a disability have received financial assistance. We have also provided 15,000 families with vouchers to purchase fresh foods from 200 local vendors to boost the economy and help ensure adequate nutrition
Watch our latest video on our recovery activities in Haiti
Rebuilding lives and providing hope in Haiti
Sitting on the ruins of her home, Stephanie stares into the empty space while keeping an eye on her 12 year old sister Locita. The devastating earthquake has left her traumatised. “My dad was killed in the quake. He managed to escape from the rubble but passed away two weeks later due to internal bleeding…. nobody noticed he’d been injured. My mum is still in hospital; she is getting better but it will take another few weeks before she’ll be able to leave the clinic.”
An interview with Pierre Tripon, Action Against Hunger’s Country Director in Haiti
14 March 2010 - Pierre Tripon reports on the current humanitarian needs in Haiti, Action Against Hunger’s emergency programmes, and the country’s prospects for the future.
"The lack of shelter remains an enormous problem, especially given that the rainy season is approaching in about two weeks and the hurricane season begins in June. One million people are homeless on the island, and only 20% currently have access to some form of shelter."
Haiti: Two Months On
12 March 2010 - Two months on from the earthquake that devastated Haiti, Action Against Hunger continues to ensure that survivors have the basics for survival. Already providing food and water to tens of thousands of survivors, our teams are racing against time to prepare for yet another challenge – the rainy season. Sanitation and the distribution of shelter are now paramount to ensure the humanitarian situation does not deteriorate further.
Aid Reaches Thousands of Earthquake Survivors in Haiti
2 February 2010 - 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.
Action Against Hunger establishes mother-baby tents to protect the youngest survivors of the quake
24 January 2010 - Amidst the camps for earthquake survivors in Port-au-Prince, Action Against Hunger | ACF-International has established multiple mother-baby centres specifically designed to provide a range of services to mothers with young children, including a safe environment for breastfeeding, as well as medical, nutritional and psychological support. Some 5,000 mothers and their infants will receive assistance in these makeshift tents.
Action Against Hunger Working to Prevent Malnutrition among Quake Survivors
22 January 2010 - As the risk of life-threatening malnutrition grows among young children in Haiti, Action Against Hunger | ACF-International has launched an emergency programme to distribute high-protein BP5 biscuits to at least 15,000 vulnerable children.
Resilience and mobilisation sets the mood - even in the most desperate of communities
20 January 2010 - “The clothes that I was wearing are the only things I have. I want to find a job to meet the needs of my family, and to make my contribution to those in need. Before the earthquake, I wanted to leave my country in order to do a Masters in Human Sciences, and then find work. Now everything has changed. I have solid training, I already have 10 years professional experience; I can help my country. So, without question, I must stay here to help. I am ready for anything now.”
Action Against Hunger extends programmes to towns outside Port-au-Prince
20 January 2010 - This Saturday, One week since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti, it is now a race against time to provide access to clean, safe drinking water to the survivors. Action Against Hunger | ACF International is already providing safe drinking water to 30,000 individuals in the neighbourhoods of Champs de Mars and Canape-Vert while finalising the setting up of additional water reservoirs in the stadium and the Croix de Pres district.
Psychological support for aid workers in Haiti is crucial for effective relief operations
19 January 2010 | Serious humanitarian disasters, such as this, can cause psychological trauma, not only for those affected, but also for the humanitarian workers who witness the events. At the time of the earthquake, 30 Action Against Hunger staff members were inside the office. The first floor of the office collapsed with everyone inside – one was buried under the rubble, one is still be accounted for. Almost all national colleagues have lost their homes, and worse, loved ones.
Action Against Hunger Launches Distribution of Drinking Water
17 January 2010 - Water and sanitation experts from Action Against Hunger | ACF International started distributing drinking water to 35,000 quake survivors. The organisation’s technical experts identified priority zones for water distributions: the Canape Vert district, where some 9,000 people have gathered, and the Champ de Mars district where between 20,000 and 25,000 displaced have congregated.
Action Against Hunger is preparing to distribute drinking water to over 35,000 quake survivors
16 March 2010| The humanitarian organisation will also distribute 45 tons of high-protein biscuits to 18,000 children under five years old for two weeks. The cargo plane chartered by humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger on Friday arrived to Port-au-Prince at noon today, carrying relief supplies including 20 tons of water and sanitation equipment. These crucial supplies will add to the two water treatment units already brought in from Action Against Hunger’s programmes in the nearby city of Gonaives. Action Against Hunger’s teams in Port-au-Prince have now fully mobilised to provide drinking water to the quake survivors.
Testimonies from the Field
16 January 2010 - Here in Croix Deprez the mood is resilient and strong. I witness those who have lost everything, and are living day-to-day on the bare minimum. However, despite catastrophic circumstances, there is a real, heartfelt sense of community spirit, the pulling together in the name of national solidarity.
Access To Water and Sanitation Urgently Needed
15 January 2010 — Less than 48 hours after a massive quake devastated parts of western Haiti, Action Against Hunger’s teams already on the ground have fully mobilised to meet humanitarian needs. External emergency experts from Action Against Hunger | ACF International have also arrived to reinforce relief efforts already taking place, assess needs, and set up programmes to assist disaster victims.
Earthquake in Haiti: Emergency Response Launched
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.
