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Haiti-Earthquake : More than a month after

Situation Report on Haiti by Pan American Health Organization

Published by AlterPresse on February 21, 2010}

* More than a month after the earthquake, over 300,000 people are suffering from injuries, but there have been no confirmed outbreaks of diseases.

* Health assessments undertaken so far have revealed that 29 hospitals and other health facilities have been partially damaged or destroyed. With the rainy season approaching, mobile clinics are crucial in order to serve those displaced.

* The humanitarian situation is also gradually improving on a daily basis. Some of the essential infrastructure in Haiti, such as the port, airport, government institutions, electric and telecommunications networks, and roads is beginning to be more operational. However, it is also clear that major unmet humanitarian needs remain, particularly in critical areas such as shelter, other non-food items and sanitation. The government estimates that 97,294 houses were destroyed and 188,383 were damaged across all affected areas.

* The revised UN Flash Appeal was launched on 18 February and will cover programs up to 12 months after the earthquake. The total amount required for the health sector is US$ 134 million.

* UNDP and partner agencies are supporting spontaneous recovery initiatives by affected communities. Approximately 66,672 people have been employed under the UNDP cash-for-work program, indirectly benefiting 333,360 people (on the basis of 5 persons per family).

* The WASH Cluster estimates that a total of 1.1 million displaced people in Port-au-Prince, Leogane, Petit Goave, Gressier and Jacmel require emergency latrines. The interim plan is to provide 12,950 latrines by April (for approximately 650,000 people using 1 latrine for 50 people ratio in acute phase) and 21,000 more within 6 months (moving towards goal of 1 latrine for 20 people). Poor sanitation and crowding increases the risk of communicable diseases.

* Over 1,700 Cuban health professionals are presently in Haiti, 1,300 of who arrived after the quake. Cuba has pledged to send as many doctors as it can.

February 19, 2010

Source : http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1