General situational analysis
Most affected areas in Haiti: Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and Carrefour. Red Cross estimates 3 million people affected of which 1 million are displaced in PAP and surrounding areas.
Large number of people have been displaced over the border with DR and estimates for camps is being based on a population of 20,000 (number to be confirmed). There are also Haitians fleeing to Jamaica and Cuba.
Numerous camps with large number of people have formed. No precise estimates of population in each camp.
The Government has devised eight zones for the distribution of humanitarian assistance. Each zone will receive direct support by a national minister to coordinate the relief effort. These include: 1) Petionville and Kenscoff; 2) Carrefour; 3) Gressier; 4) Petit Goave, Grand Goave and Leogane; 4) Tabarre; 5) Cabaret and Croix de Bouquets; 6) Delmar; 7) Jacmel; and 8) Port au Prince Municipality.
There are 4 (food/water) distributions points known so far: Petionville Club, two soccer fields in Delmas, and on Place Dessaline on Champ de Mars. Food prices are said to be increasing and obtaining food, water, and fuel remain a challenge.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) has created a National Health Commission to coordinate the local and international response. The MOH has defined 3 levels of healthcare: mobile health centers, fixed health centers (minor health problems), and finally hospitals with surgical capacities. The first 2 might be relevant also for case finding of malnourished individuals
12 Clusters (Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination and Management, WASH, Health, Food, Nutrition, Logistics, Emergency Telecommunications, Protection, Early Recovery, Education, Agriculture) have been established.
Pre-crisis nutrition information
Chronic malnutrition stagnant from 2005-2008 at about 24% (MoH-Haiti-DHS) also data showing stunting at 32%
Acute malnutrition (SAM+MAM) increased from 5% in 1995 to 7% in 2000 to 9% in 2005-2008 (MoH-Haiti-DHS). Some indication that level of acute malnutrition in urban areas has increased in past 3 years.
Iron>60% of children 6-59 months suffer some form of anemia; among anemic children, 72% are less than 24 months (DHS 2005). 46% of women (15-49 years) suffer some from of anemia (DHS 2005)
Complementary feeding rate 6-9 months 80% 2005-2008
Low birth weight (LBW) 25% 2005-2008
Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) 41% 2005-2008
Vitamin A Supplementation coverage is less than the target coverage rate (80%) in all but 2 departments (DHS 2005, UNICEF 2008)
Food insecure pre-crisis 1.8 million (FEWSNET Oct 2009)
All clusters have been activated. The Nutrition Cluster has been activated for Haiti and Santo Domingo.