Haiti Emergency
Words fail to describe the scale of the devastation caused by the earthquake
that struck Haiti on 12th January 2010, now over six months ago. It was the worst ever to hit the
Western Hemisphere, claiming more than
220,000 lives and forcing 1.6 million into displacement.
Since day one, UNICEF mobilised, delivering life-saving supplies to the Haitian children and their families. A staggering amount has been achieved so far, yet much remains to be done.
If you'd like to help Haiti, please make a one-off donation by using the form on the right or become a Haiti Monthly Partner.
An image tells a million words - View our video or our photo essay on our Haiti accomplishments.
Some of the milestones at six months are truly remarkable. So far no increase in malnutrition has been recorded nor have we seen any major disease outbreaks despite huge challenges in health and sanitation.
Haitian children are at the forefront of our recovery efforts. Our aim is not to simply build back to what they had before, but to 'build back better'.
EXPANDING THE RESPONSE
A lot has been achieved in six months; imagine what we can do in a year!
EDUCATION
Just 45% of children attended school before the quake hit. Our aim is to not only get these students back to school, but to increase the percentage attending school.
Only 58% of infants were immunised against measles pre-quake. Our aim is to increase the number of children immunised against all major diseases.
4 out of 10 children (1.7 million) had no access to proper sanitation pre-quake. We aim to decrease the current toilet per person ratio from 145:1 to 100:1 by year-end.
Read Personal Stories On Lives UNICEF Has Impacted
Our challenge is to increase access to clean water and the number of toilets available in safe, well lit areas, especially for girls. We need to re-open more schools and strengthen child protection mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable from violence, abuse and exploitation. A return to normalcy is not enough to ensure the survival and development of Haiti’s children. We must 'build back better'!
Help us continue to help Haitian children: make a one-off donation using the form on the right or become a Haiti Monthly Partner.
Haiti Is a Children's emergency
Close to 1.5 million children were directly affected; nearly double the entire population of children in New Zealand.Since day one, UNICEF mobilised, delivering life-saving supplies to the Haitian children and their families. A staggering amount has been achieved so far, yet much remains to be done.
If you'd like to help Haiti, please make a one-off donation by using the form on the right or become a Haiti Monthly Partner.
An image tells a million words - View our video or our photo essay on our Haiti accomplishments.
Six Months On - What we've achieved
View the Full 6 Month ReportSome of the milestones at six months are truly remarkable. So far no increase in malnutrition has been recorded nor have we seen any major disease outbreaks despite huge challenges in health and sanitation.
Haitian children are at the forefront of our recovery efforts. Our aim is not to simply build back to what they had before, but to 'build back better'.
EXPANDING THE RESPONSE
A lot has been achieved in six months; imagine what we can do in a year!
EDUCATION
Just 45% of children attended school before the quake hit. Our aim is to not only get these students back to school, but to increase the percentage attending school.
- 185,000 children provided resources such as pencils and notebooks.
- 2,300 teachers and 3,000 education personnel trained by UNICEF.
- 18 schools equipped with water, sanitation and hygiene facilities; 29 additional schools will be completed by August.
Only 58% of infants were immunised against measles pre-quake. Our aim is to increase the number of children immunised against all major diseases.
- 275,000+ children immunised against major preventable diseases.
- 1.7 million people's health needs for three months covered through supply of emergency health kits.
4 out of 10 children (1.7 million) had no access to proper sanitation pre-quake. We aim to decrease the current toilet per person ratio from 145:1 to 100:1 by year-end.
- 1.66 million litres of safe water supplied daily to 333,000 people.
- 213,240 people benefited from 42,450 personal hygiene kits.
- 2,000 severely malnourished children have received life-saving treatment.
- 186,000 children (9 months to 7 yrs) have received vitamin A supplements.
- 23,000 mothers provided with breastfeeding support.
- 225 Child-Friendly Spaces established providing safe havens and psychosocial support to over 62,800 children.
Read Personal Stories On Lives UNICEF Has Impacted
- Sterling's story; Reunited with her family two months after the earthquake.
- Jean-Rene and Jean-Raymond's Story; The twins head back to school.
- Taïma's Story; School helps "me forget what happened".
What's still needed
Our work in Haiti is far from over. Too many women and children still live in unacceptable conditions, and we must continue our efforts with the same sense of urgency.Our challenge is to increase access to clean water and the number of toilets available in safe, well lit areas, especially for girls. We need to re-open more schools and strengthen child protection mechanisms to protect the most vulnerable from violence, abuse and exploitation. A return to normalcy is not enough to ensure the survival and development of Haiti’s children. We must 'build back better'!
Help us continue to help Haitian children: make a one-off donation using the form on the right or become a Haiti Monthly Partner.