Overview
The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12
2010, took the lives of an estimated 50,000 people, and left
300,000 people homeless. The UN estimates that more than 3 million
people were affected by the earthquake.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the earthquake
devastation as the worst humanitarian crisis for decades. Haiti is
consistently ranked the poorest country in the Western hemisphere,
and is therefore wholly dependent on the support of the
international community to recover from a crisis of this scale.
How we help
UNHCR's High Commissioner António Guterres immediately offered
the Haitian government full assistance of the Agency to support the
emergency relief effort. We deployed an emergency team of
Protection Officers to the region as part of the joint UN response,
and continue to work closely with other agencies in the Dominican
Republic to assist those crossing the border from Haiti.
Meeting the MDGs
UNHCR is meeting the following MDGs in its emergency response in
Haiti:
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MDG 6: In the Republic of Haiti, UNHCR is
combatting HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases by providing access
to treatment for those in need and by working to implement
effective prevention strategies. Such measures include
providing refugees with insecticide treated nets and implementing
immunisation programs.
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MDG 7: After the earthquake, much of the
infrastructure that delivered clean and safe drinking water to the
people of Haiti was destroyed. A serious outbreak of cholera caused
thousands of deaths and tens of thousands to be hospitalised.
In order to combat this, UNHCR helped with the
distribution of thousands of jerry cans and the construction of
water delivery points.
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News
HAITI: In assisting Haiti quake survivors, start at the beginning: A birth certificate - 1 February 2011
PETIT GOAVE, Haiti, February 1 (UNHCR) – This was the day that Jacqueline and her neighbours in a ramshackle settlement for victims of last year's devastating earthquake were going to be born again.
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HAITI: UNHCR calls for US$12.5 million to help quake-displaced Haitians - 13 April 2010
The UN refugee agency on Tuesday called for US$12.5 million to help people living outside of formal camps in Haiti and other quake survivors who have fled to neighbouring Dominican Republic.
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HAITI: Urgent need seen for lasting solutions for Haiti's 1.5 million displaced - 12 July 2010
This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards – to whom quoted text may be attributed – at the press briefing, on 12 July 2010, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
The gaps and challenges remain enormous. At the peak of displacement some 2.3 million people were living away from their former homes. Today 1.5 million people remain in spontaneous settlements. Most of the displaced are in settlements in and around Port-au-Prince, and assistance has not adequately reached those in host families. Durable solutions for the displaced are still not in sight.
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