REDLAC Weekly Note on Emergencies: Latin America & The Caribbean - Year 3, Issue 141

EARTHQUAKE

HAITI: On Tuesday 12 January, at approximately 16.53hrs local time, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale, less than 10 km deep, was recorded off the coast of Haiti, only 17 km from the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Haiti: After the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, survivors rest in a makeshift shelter in the parking lot of the general hospital. Photo: UN/Logan Abassi. =A9

Six days after the event, a comprehensive assessment of the damages is underway. Priorities for assistance are search and rescue, water and sanitation, medical services, shelter and food. IOM estimates that 200,000 families (which could reach one million people) are in need of immediate shelter and non-food assistance. Major health concerns include untreated trauma wounds and infection of wounds. Tension among the population is on the rise because of lack of food. An ICRC representative in the country also highlights the urgent need to address the issue of clean water and sanitation.

Search and rescue teams have already removed a total of 71 people removed from the rubble.

The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination Teams (UNDAC) in Haiti indicate that there is no further need for additional search and rescue teams.

The fuel situation countrywide is becoming more and more critical. The Logistics Cluster reported that 10,000 gallons were brought into country but fuel restrictions are in place and the price for fuel has increased to the equivalent of US $10 per gallon.

The national telecommunications system has been partly restored but without access to fuel, the mobile network will be cut off within days, which will have serious implications for the humanitarian operation.

To support the humanitarian community in the country, the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) started on 17 January with passenger and small cargo shuttle flights between Santo Domingo and Port-au-Prince.

Cluster coordination has been activated for food, water and sanitation, health, shelter and logistics. The overall relief operation is led by the Humanitarian Coordinator, Ms. Kim Bolduc.

Seven more clusters are about to initiate activities: agriculture, nutrition, protection, early recovery, emergency telecommunications, education, and camp coordination.

Communications experts have been setting up multiple broadband access points (internet connections and phone lines) in coordination and logistics centres located near the airport. These experts are also providing technological support to Minustah (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti). Telecoms Sans Frontieres is planning to open a telecom centre for Non Governmental Organizations.

On 13 January, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced an allocation of US$10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund and an additional US$15 million was allocated on 15 January. An International Appeal for US$575 million was launched in New York also on 15 January, to cover the need of approximately 3 million people severely affected.

IFRC reports that they are also currently appealing for approximately US$ 103 million to assist some 300,000 affected people.

OCHA is tracking all official donations to various international appeals worldwide. For more information about the Haiti Appeal visit the Financial Tracking Services website.

For more information about this major emergency please, visit the following humanitarian portals:

Reliefweb or Redhum

Source: Reports from UN agencies and IFRC