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In Brief
THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS CHF 1,388,000 (USD 1,071,915 OR EUR 879,495) IN CASH, KIND, OR SERVICES TO ASSIST TARGETED BENEFICIARIES FOR 9 MONTHS
This Emergency Appeal replaces the Haïti and the Haïtian National Red Cross Society component of the Federation's 2004 Annual appeal (Appeal 01.52/2004) for the Caribbean and includes both emergency and longer-term objectives. These focus on organizational development, disaster management, health and promotion of humanitarian values.
The situation
The on-going precarious situation in Haïti degenerated significantly as of early February as rebel groups clashed with government supporters and the country suffered increasing degrees of violenc e and insecurity. By the end of February, rebel factions held the north and centre of the country, including the second largest town, Cap-Haïtien, and the northern/central region was inaccessible as roads were barricaded. With the town of Mirebalais some 50 km. from Port au Prince then captured by the opposition, the rebels threatened to take Port au Prince which braced to counter the forthcoming attack. Hospitals were attacked, infrastructure destroyed, and the port, homes and shops were looted. The crisis culminated on Sunday, 29 February as President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled the country. With the arrival of troops from a multinational interim force, it is hoped that security conditions will improve rapidly, although fighting and violence currently continue.
Continual political tensions in Haïti given growing resistance to President Aristide have exacerbated the major underlying problems in the country. Haïti is the poorest country in the western hemisphere and has the lowest human development indicators in the Americas with 24% of births attended by skilled personnel; 46% of the population with access to clean drinking water; an infant mortality rate of 79 per 1,000 live births; 17% of children under five underweight for their age, and an adult literacy rate of 50.8% (UNDP Human Development Report 2003). The population suffers acute poverty with major inequalities, a lack of access to clean water, medical care and public services. The current crisis is paralyzing health services, transport and education and affecting the distribution of food. As a result, levels of vulnerability, already high in the country, are continuing to rise and fragile coping mechanisms are being eroded. Although little displacement has taken place to date both from rebel-held towns to rural areas and in the cities, several hundred Haïtians have fled to neighbouring countries. Should tensions and fighting persist, the risk of population movements will be increased.
The needs
Immediate needs:
Given growing vulnerability, there are significant needs on the part of vast numbers of the Haïtian population in both urban and rural areas for clean drinking water, improved sanitation, food, health care, medicines, ambulance services, first aid and education. It is also necessary to anticipate possible population flows outside the country. In Haïti, as a result of the on-going insecurity and difficult access, particularly to rural, isolated communities, there is little precise information at this stage. As soon as the security situation improves, the Federation will seek to undertake further needs assessments with the Haïtian National Red Cross Society to ensure appropriate targeting of assistance and beneficiaries. This appeal may be revised once more detailed information has been obtained.
Medium-term needs:
The Haïtian National Red Cross Society (HNRCS) works in a challenging environment, given an on-going situation of political crisis and high levels of vulnerability in the country. In view of the current context, there is an essential need to strengthen the National Society to face, in particular, precarious health conditions and future natural disasters. The Federation will continue to work closely with the National Society, boosting the principal areas in which its activity is focused. The National Society has an essential role in the provision of safe blood in the country together with activities in health care, ambulance services, HIV/AIDS including peer education, first aid, disaster preparedness and response, Red Cross youth and organizational development.
Coordination
The Federation is working closely with the ICRC, which is the lead agency in Haïti, coordinating all international Movement operational activities. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) is currently being drawn up between the ICRC, the Federation and the Haïtian National Red Cross Society, clearly defining roles and responsibilities. The two PNSs which are present in Haïti, the French Red Cross and the Netherlands Red Cross, are also working in accordance with this framework. In accordance with its mandate, the ICRC is focusing attention on the protection and well-functioning of hospitals and ambulance services, the protection of humanitarian convoys, of persons deprived of their freedom and the civilian population.
The ICRC is leading the coordination of the Movement with UN agencies and NGOs working in Haïti to ensure complementarity of initiatives being undertaken to provide assistance to the vulnerable population in Haïti. Representatives of the Federation regularly attend inter-agency meetings in Port au Prince, Santo Domingo and Geneva.
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