Haiti Earthquake Response

                The country of Haiti is located in the Caribbean Sea, which is just south of the Gulf of Mexico. The Caribbean Sea is home to a lot of the world's island. The capital is Port-au-Prince, which is located in the middle of the country right next to Golfe de la Gonave. The whole county is about 10,700 square miles. It contains an estimated 6,867,995 people this is about 642 people per square mile. This is actually quite dense considering that the United States has about 76 people per square mile.

A 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti on 12 January 2010.  The earthquake directly affected Port-au-Prince Léogane, Petit and Grand Goave and Jacmel, causing over 222,570 deaths and 300,572 Injuries. The earthquake compounded pre-existing problems of structural problems, severe poverty and low development, very limited access to education, health and sanitation services.  Haiti earthquake occurred at an unexpected time which made it hard for its people to continue a normal life.

The success of an earthquake depends on the techniques used such as: mitigation, prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery.

1. Mitigation is an effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of earthquakes.

2. Prevention is to stay aware of where you are, and exposure to disease or injury.

3.  Preparedness is while disasters may be unpredictable, important steps can be taken before a disaster occurs to minimize the threat of damage.

4. Emergency response is precautions in the event of a disaster. No matter the type of catastrophe, proper emergency response can protect and even save lives. By having a full knowledge of the surroundings, keeping a supply of rescue goods, and having a detailed plan emergency response can allow better chance of safety in any situation.

5. Disaster recovery is the ability to continue to work after a catastrophic event.

We know that when a natural disaster occurs people are forced to flee their homes and others who remain within their own country, are known as internally displaced persons (IDPs). Today, more than 27 million people are internally displaced by conflict according to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre.

OCHA led the humanitarian response to Haiti’s devastating earthquake in January 2010, which killed 217,300 people and affected 2.1 million Haitians. OCHA (The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian) is an inter-agency body, serving UN agencies and NGOs in the humanitarian domain.

OCHA's mission is to:

 • Mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies.

 • Advocate the rights of people in need.

 • Promote preparedness and prevention.

 • Facilitate sustainable solutions.

OCHA will focus on supporting the Government to identify and implement durable housing solutions and accelerate recovery efforts. It will address security concerns for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, women and children, and strengthen access to basic services, such as water and sanitation. OCHA will support national authorities to lead a comprehensive response to the cholera epidemic, and work to strengthen national disaster preparedness and contingency planning.

 For example when the earthquake occurred in Haiti 1.5 million people resided in 1,354 spontaneous settlements. 810,000 people in 1,150 camps.

We also know that living in camps requires a lot of responses. For example in Haiti 95 per cent of camps were monitored regularly with the Data Tracking Matrix to track levels of service raising awareness on difficulties. Mitigation works carried out in 42 camps. Over 8,000 IDPs relocated to planned sites.

Also, between 10 million and 11 million cubic metres of rubble. As more than two thirds of the population did not have formal jobs, support for livelihoods is essential following the earthquake. After it between 10 and 15 percent of rubble managed. Between February and November 240,000 people were employed through Cash/Food-for- Work schemes through 231 projects. WFP reached 400,000 beneficiaries through Food/Cash-for-Work programmes focused on rubble clearance and canal cleaning.

Education

 4,992 schools were affected by the earthquake, of which 3,978 were damaged or destroyed. 80 per cent of schools in Port-au-Prince and 60 per cent of schools in the South-East and West departments destroyed or damaged. Humanitarian response: 2,100 (68 per cent) damaged schools cleared of debris. 12,895 teachers and 7,592 education staff trained, including in psychosocial support for traumatized children. 842,097 school-children benefited from provision of basic learning materials. 2,729 temporary learning spaces replaced destroyed schools. 1.1 million children receive daily meals through the National School Feeding Programme.

Food

Food assistance required, initially for those displaced by the earthquake. Humanitarian response: 4.3 million people received food rations in the weeks following the earthquake. From January to March 18,747 tons of food delivered to families in Port-au-Prince. 76,000 people in hospitals and orphanage received meals in the days following the earthquake.

Health

Earthquake-affected populations required primary healthcare and monitoring. Destruction or damage of 30 hospitals. Vaccination against disease was essential, especially in IDP camps. Humanitarian response: Over 400 health partners providing assistance. 345,000 health kits with medicines and supplies such as antibiotics, vaccines, anaesthetics and analgesics distributed. 4,000 emergency amputations carried out. 90 per cent of IDPs in Port-au-Prince have access to health clinics. Psychosocial support and activities provided in 25communes. By May 900,000 vaccinations administered to vulnerable populations. 2,500 units of blood imported and distributed in 45 days following the quake.

Logistics

Major needs or concerns: The need to import and transport humanitarian relief supplies to affected populations. Congestion at entry points: airports, ports, border crossing points. Lack of specialized vehicles not available on the commercial market were required to access remote areas. Humanitarian response: 13,000 metric tons of life-saving relief items were dispatched from Port-au-Prince to the areas in need. 1,300 truck loads dispatched from the Dominican Republic to Haiti, delivering more than 9,300 metric tons. The UN Humanitarian Air Service transported over 14,700 humanitarian passengers, flew to 100 isolated villages, dispatching 1,200 metric tons of relief items.

Shelter and NFIs

Major needs or concerns: At the peak, 2.3 million people left their homes. 188,383 homes collapsed of which 105,000 were completely destroyed. 162,000 families live in emergency shelter. 114,456 tents and 1,086,513 tarpaulins distributed. Over 2.4 million non-food-items including. 120,673 toolkits and 242,362 kitchen sets. 31,656 transitional shelters constructed, providing 158,000 families with safer shelter. 342,550 residences structurally assessed; over half structurally sound.

Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)

Major needs or concerns: Sanitation and drinking water for affected populations, especially in spontaneous settlements. Waste management, especially in spontaneous settlements. Humanitarian Response: Sanitation and drinking water for affected populations, especially in spontaneous settlements.

Waste management, especially in spontaneous settlements. Basic water and sanitation needs met for over 1.7 million people following the earthquake. At least five litres of drinking water per person is being delivered to 1.2 million people daily transporting of over 6,200 m³ of water daily. Over 11,000 latrines constructed. 87,300 hygiene kits distributed; each kit is designed for a family of 5 for up to three months. Over 2,200 Hygiene Promoters and Community Mobilizers actively disseminate Government approved WASH messages. Nutrition Major needs or concerns. Approximately 15,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition; one in three children in Haiti is estimated to be chronically malnourished.

Humanitarian response: Over 107 baby-friendly tents and spaces established to promote proper infant and young child feeding. 102,035 children and 48,913 mothers benefitted from nutrition counseling. Over 70,000 moderately malnourished children admitted into selective feeding programs. Over 500,000 children 6-59 months and pregnant and lactating women received monthly supplementary feeding.

Protection Major needs or concerns: Protection rights of people living in IDP camps and surrounding deprived areas. Rights to be protected from harm, including sexual violence.

Humanitarian response: IDP Camp security needs assessments conducted. 109 solar lights in 40 camps, to improve security. Protection and human rights trainings for camp managers, NGOs, and the police.

 Communicating with Disaster Affected Communities (CDAC) helped facilitate the communication of lifesaving humanitarian information and supported local media across the affected area. 74 per cent of farming households in affected areas have been reached with assistance, including 1,874 tons of seed, 6 million roots and tubers for starch crop planting, 100,000 banana plants, 14 tons of vegetable seeds, 87,563 hand tools, 9,345 tons of fertilizer and 170 tons of compost. The 2010 revised Haiti Earthquake Appeal envisages activities costing $1,502 million over a one-year timeframe. Contributions have been received for 72 per cent.

While much progress has been made in helping the country recover, the requirement for strong humanitarian coordination is expected to continue in the future.

 

A.Xh

United Nations

In order to better understand the UN and NGOs, there has to be an understanding of who are they? What do they offer, what helps are offered by them around the world, and are these organizations effective?

Society as a whole and its effect on one’s life is influenced by one's power and wealth. For this reason, non-governmental organizations (NGO) have been on the go in the United Nations since its establishment. UN and NGO’s are found to assist the poor and disadvantaged around the world. The important motivating strength in all their activities relates to the improvement of human suffering, the development of people, assistance and justice in the world. UN and NGO provide direct aid to the poor, and contain people in their own growth, helping them to realize their potential. UN and NGO also educate the people of the United States to achieve their moral responsibilities toward human beings around the world by helping the poor, working to remove the causes of poverty, and promoting social justice as well. The aids that UN and NGO offer to communities are very huge but have a fine goal. The aids help the community get back on their feet and become self-financing.  Some of the aids include that of environmental, health, education, emergency response, HIV/AIDS and other things.

NGO’s are legally created by people who work independently from any form of government.  There are NGO's which have "official UN status." And, then there are thousands (maybe millions) of NGO's worldwide.

1. ECOSOC Status (Economic and Social Council - highest status for NGOs at the UN)

2. DPI Status (Department of Information)

3. Press Status (News Media and Press - this is part of DPI)

4. Other Status (Direct relationships with individual UN Organizations)

Non-UN Status NGO's Worldwide!

I'll write about ICRC and UNICEF. The International Committee of the Red Cross’s order monitors essentially from the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, it occupies 12,000 people in 80 countries. The ICRC as the biggest humanitarian self-regulating organization in the world and recognized in 1876 to assisting victims of war as well as other situations of violence. Because wars frequently involve disagreements over land or political and religious dissimilarities the damage of lives, history and the economy are about to happen. Although war is often viewed as a bad thing, it can often be seen as obligatory. Disagreements over lands result in conflict. Throughout the past, as culture changes, the prior inhabitants will not easily release their native land. This is why some of the bloodiest wars were fought over land. Simply because two groups of people could not quietly regulate where their border lies, they fought each other. Instead of both countries having some land, one country has all the land. Moreover, giving to the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977, residents not taking part in fight may under no conditions be the object of attack and must be out of danger and sheltered. In truth, still, this principle has been weakened, because the civilian population, particularly since the Second World War, has suffered most of armed violence.

On the other hand children are defined as our future, our greatest resource, and our hope for a better tomorrow.  For them to learn in a healthy and normal way, it is important to meet the basic needs for stability, food, health care, emotions, affection, and security and UNICEF is undertaking it. It was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946, to offer emergency food and healthcare to children in countries that had been overwhelmed by World War II.  Today, the work of UNICEF is operating in 191 countries through country programs and National Committees. Some 88 per cent of the organization's posts are located in the field. UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, food, education, protection, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. reserve for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.  There are eight local offices and country offices worldwide, as well as a research center in Florence, a supply operation in Copenhagen and offices in Tokyo and Brussels. UNICEF headquarters are in New York.

The similarity between ICRC and UNICEF is that both organizations’ goals are that of human’s rights as well as fighting against nasty conditions of human beings. It is a major challenge for the ICRC locating people as well as putting them into contact with their relatives. The efforts are exchanging family messages, reuniting families and seeking to clarify the luck of those who remain missing. Conflicts and disasters leave more than physical wounds: in the chaos, fear and horror, family members can be separated in minutes, every so often primary to long years of suffering and uncertainty about the destiny of children, partners or blood relation.

Besides taking care of victim, ICRC helps also economic security to promise that families and communities affected by conflict or armed violence can see vital needs and maintain bearable livings. Needs covered including food, shelter, access to health care and education. Economic security events are closely related to health, water and surroundings programs. All these undertakings come within the ICRC’s global mission to protect victims of conflict. Each year, armed conflict upsets millions of lives. The ICRC’s water guarantees access to water in conflict zones and maintain a bearable living environment. Ultimately, this work cuts death and suffering due to surroundings damage or disruption to water supplies. In addition, the goal of ICRC’s Health Unit activities is to prevent and cure people affected by conflict. The ICR works closely with the National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and with their International Federation in order to ensure a rigorous, balanced and quick humanitarian response to the needs of the victims of armed conflict or any other situation of internal violence.

Another similarity between ICRC and UNICEF is that both are found by donation. Throughout history money has been donated to the needy, as well as food, clothing, tools, bedding etc. There are plentiful donations that support victims of wars, children in several locations, victims of diseases, homeless people and disadvantaged people around our world. These organizations also hang on the generosity of people to make donations to charity of money, goods and services, in order that they can achieve their work. Many offerings are entirely self-funded while others receive some government funding as well. Donation is an outlook to make a difference in the world. By making a difference to someone’s life our lives are meaningful because we support our society

While UNICEF deals with improving the lives of children and mothers, International Committee of the Red Cross deals improving the lives of prisoners of war and residents jailed during armed fight or in other forms of violence. Its wish is to confirm that prisoners are treated with dignity and kindness, in agreement with international rules and principles and that is by working close with experts to prevent mistreatment and to advance both the treatment of prisoners and their conditions of prison. It seeks to ensure the respect of the rights of people protected in international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

ICRC does a lot for example keeping and supporting negotiations to protect and assist people affected by war and other situations of violence. Negotiation happens when two or more groups come together to try and reach a jointly pleasing agreement over a conflict for the reason that those who actually carry the weapons wound or kill people or to themselves. They are also in a situation to either help humanitarian action who bring about bigger prospects for underprivileged groups or hold it back.

There has to be UN and NGOs support to help people get through hard times. Did UN and NGO’s improve the quality of life globally? I believe yes! The UN and NGOs have brought noteworthy changes to the world. The advances from UN and NGOs are in the life of human beings. Taking these, and many other factors, into consideration, one could say that, social developments today and those about the past are almost incomparable.

 

       Ardiana Xhafa

MS in Communication