World Vision responds to Haiti disaster, but situation remains grave

World Vision U.S.Jan 19 2010

Disaster Statistics

• 70,000 bodies officially recovered, total death toll likely well over 100,000
• 3 million people displaced or otherwise impacted by earthquake (Population of Port-au-Prince prior to the quake: 4 to 4.5 million)

Conditions in Port-au-Prince

• Those who lost homes in the quake are now scattered across 243 different locations in Port-au-Prince.
• In addition, many earthquake survivors have migrated to rural regions, including the island of La Gonave.
• The availability of food in markets is limited and extremely expensive.
• Aid distributions are taking place, but access to shelter, sanitation, water, food and medical care remains extremely limited and extremely expensive.
• Medical facilities in Port-au-Prince still lack staff and medicine.
• Fuel is a main concern for humanitarian operations – fuel restrictions are in place with just 2-3 days of fuel reserves after 10,000 gallons trucked in from Santo Domingo on Sunday.
• Security and public sanitation have emerged as two critical challenges. Reports of break-ins and lootings in large areas of the city are increasing.
• Tens of thousands of IDPs lack access to basic services including toilets, the odor now inundates the city.

WV response to date:

• World Vision is running a clinic/triage center in Jimani, Dominican Republic, where many quake survivors have fled.  More than 300 people have visited the clinic.  Many are children separated from their families.  Arrivals in critical condition are being evacuated by helicopter to Santo Domingo.
• WV is also supplying food, medical supplies and shelter in Jimani.
• Family-separated children are expected to become a top priority in this emergency response in coming days, weeks and months.
• A WV child protection specialist is scheduled to arrive in Port-au-Prince on Thursday to begin identifying separated children and reuniting them with their families.
• To date, World Vision has raised $31 million in cash for this response.  World Vision's U.S. office has raised $10.5 million in cash (and an additional $2 million in product donations from corporations).

Logistics Improving, but Still Difficult

• The Port-au-Prince port remains unusable, the airport is heavily congested, and the road from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince is congested, with transit time running up to 18 hours.  Under normal conditions, the transit time varies between five and eight hours.
• Approximately 100 aircraft land each day at Port-au-Prince airport.  Current priorities for landing slots are water and water equipment, food and medical, and transportation and logistics support.
• World Vision has five relief flights scheduled from warehouses in Dubai, Panama, Germany, Canada and Denver, Colo., carrying the following supplies:
  • Tarps
  • collapsible water containers
  • shovels
  • hygiene kits
  • kitchen sets
  • collapsible water containers
  • blankets
  • radio equipment
  • mosquito nets

World Vision has signed an agreement with Air Serv International to provide one light aircraft to transport people and cargo (14,000 lbs capacity) between Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince. The first flights began today, making two rotations per day. According to relief staff, these flights will radically improve transports of staff and goods.