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.
World Vision 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 World Vision child protection specialist is scheduled to arrive in Port-au-Prince on Thursday to begin identifying separated children and reuniting them with their families.
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.