Haiti Quake Updates

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ActionAid

 
February 18, 2010
 

Haiti earthquake one month on: ActionAid's response

ActionAid has set up a regular feeding programme in Haiti for more than 15,000 people and will reach another 12,000 in the coming days.

ActionAid has been able to roll out the food distributions with its partner COZPAM in six camps in the Mariani area of Port-au-Prince %u2013 one of the poorest areas of the city %u2013 despite the huge logistical challenges.

The food distributions are taking place every two weeks and each family gets enough nutritious food to last until the next delivery. These distributions will continue for at least another two months.

ActionAid Country Director in Haiti, Jean Claude Fignole, said: %u201COur food aid programme has been going for three weeks now and we have also starting giving out blankets and kitchen sets.

%u201CThe process has been with the full participation of the community and we have given extra help to vulnerable groups like pregnant women, the disabled and the elderly. We work with grassroots organisations which is why we have been able to reach people in a dignified way.%u201D

In addition ActionAid will this week begin delivering food aid to 12,000 people in Jacmel in the south east of the country, which was also hard hit by the earthquake. With partner CROSE we are also planning to give out seeds and tools in Jacmel before the planting season starts in March.

Jean Claude Fignole continued: %u201COur next focus will be on providing shelter ahead of the rainy season in March, helping children get back to school and people get back to work. Another important element of our work will be trauma healing for those who have lost loved ones and been left in shock by the earthquake.%u201D

ActionAid will also be working on the protection of women in the camps and work is also planned in areas which were less affected by the earthquake but have seen an influx of people from the areas which were harder hit.

ActionAid has so far raised more than �5 million for relief and rehabilitation work in Haiti.

Donate now to the ActionAid appeal

via actionaid.org.uk

Filed under  //   action aid   earthquake   haiti   humanitarian aid   shelter  
Posted by Joel Bassuk 

Comments [1]

January 18, 2010
 

ActionAid sponsored children lose their home and their school

18 January 2010 12:49

 

Sarag GillamSarah Gillam, ActionAid International

The Destramy family were already poor. Now they have no home, no food and just water from the stream.

We found them living in the ruins of their collapsed home....the curtain still blowing in a front room now wide open to the street.

Rhe Destramy family

Their two children - Michou, 10, and Wendy, 12 - are both sponsored by ActionAid. They attend the local school for the poorest children in the neighbourhood (run by ActionAid partners COZPAM) but this building has been destroyed as well.

"We didn't foresee this event so we had no food supplies at home," said Sony, 43, from Mariani district in Port-au-Prince, an area badly hit by the quake.

Once a street vendor selling plastic bags, Sony became too ill to work. His wife Monique, 48, used to sell drinking glasses but they all got smashed in the earthquake.

"I was ill and lying on my bed in front of the house when the earthquake happened. My head just spun - I didn't know what was happening.

"My children were inside as the house started to collapse around us. It was all so quick. They got out but everything's been destroyed."

The family are living on the street like all the others in the neighbourhood under sheets strung between broken down buildings.

Their neighbours are sharing rice and spaghetti with them.

"It's difficult to find food and it's expensive. We have no money to buy anything", said Monique.

450 children are sponsored in the Mariani district of Port-au-Prince and another 550 in Phillipeau - which is less badly affected.

People are still being located while many have left for the countryside to stay with relaives.

"We just want our children to go to school and find somewhere to sleep," said Monique. 

ActionAid staff are working round the clock to reach children like Michou and Wendy.

Photo: Moises Saman/Panos/ActionAid.

 


via actionaid.org.uk

 

Filed under  //   ActionAid   haiti  
Posted by Ed Pomfret 

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