Haiti Quake Updates

Media Contacts Wendy Christian (W) 203-221-3767 (C) 203-241-9722 Kate Conradt (W) 202-640-6631 (C) 202-294-9700 Tanya Weinberg (W) 202-640-6647 (C) 202-247-6610 Eileen Burke (W) 203-221-4233 (C) 203-216-0718 Save the Children to Distribute Food Rations to 200,000 Children and Families in Haiti in Partnership with World Food Program PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (Jan. 29, 2010) — Save the Children will partner with the World Food Program (WFP) to distribute critically needed food supplies to about 200,000 children and families in Haiti affected by the catastrophic earthquake over two weeks ago.    Beginning this Sunday, Save the Children will provide family food rations – enough to feed a family for two weeks – to about 33,000 families (equivalent to 200,000 people) with special attention to women.   Food distribution in Haiti. Photo credit: Colin Crowley.  "Two weeks after the disaster, many families are still without a stable food supply," warned Annie Foster, Save the Children's emergency team leader in Haiti. "Rapid food distribution must begin immediately to save the most vulnerable, especially children." "Children are the first ones to suffer," said Foster. "While some local markets have reopened, there are only small supplies of food and the prices have risen dramatically." Save the Children is one of several aid agencies who will assist in a two-week WFP distribution program in and around the city of Port-au-Prince. U.S. Military to Provide Security During Food Distribution, World Food Program to Transport Food to Sites The US military will provide security during the food distribution and ensure the boundaries of site areas are properly arranged prior to distribution. WFP is responsible for the secure transportation of the food to the distribution site areas. "Haitian people keep hearing that food is coming," said Foster. "But many of them have not seen any. They are becoming increasingly impatient. One of the measures Save the Children took to prevent possible incidents is to get the community involved in the process, so they understand how this distribution will take place." Several Additional Partners to Help Manage Distribution Sites Save the Children is working closely with World Vision, Catholic Relief Services and Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) to manage the multiple WFP distribution sites. Since the earthquake, Save the Children's health teams have reached more than 85,000 people with medical treatment.  The aid agency is also distributing hygiene and household supplies such as soap, towels, cans to hold water, and plastic sheeting for shelter.  Save the Children has worked in Haiti since 1978 and currently has about 250 staff in the country. Learn more about our emergency response to the earthquake in Haiti. Please Help Us Respond to the Haiti Emergency by Donating Now Donate any amount at www.savethechildren.org or by calling 1-800-728-3843 or 1-203-221-4030. OR DONATE $10 BY TEXTING "SAVE" to 20222 (U.S. Only). Standard message rates apply. Save the Children is the leading, independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 29 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 120 countries. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Save the Children and AmeriCares have partnered to bring medical aid to more than 85,000 Haitians affected by the earthquake.

Westport,-based Save the Children's emergency response team in Haiti has distributed more than 16.5 tons of medical supplies in the town of Leogane and at the general hospital in Port-au-Prince – supplies donated by AmeriCares, the global health and disaster relief organization based in Stamford, Conn.

 "The situation is still dire and children remain the most vulnerable part of the population during emergencies of this magnitude," said Carolyn Miles, Chief Operating Officer of Save the Children. "But with the help of our long-time partner, AmeriCares, our health team is getting medical treatment to thousands of children and their families."

"Haitian hospitals had little to begin with, but now they have nothing – no pain medicines for patients with trauma injuries and no anesthesia for patients who need surgery," said Elizabeth Furst Frank, Senior Vice President of Global Programs for AmeriCares. "AmeriCares is proud to deliver lifesaving medicines and supplies to our health care partner, Save the Children. Our work together will benefit earthquake survivors in the days, weeks and months ahead."

There is no audio for about the first 10 seconds, but it starts after that, so be patient.  Also, the volume is a bit low at points so turn up the volume on your computer.

We could hear buildings still crumbling down five hours after the earthquake. Last night houses were down in the area surrounding our office.

This is a significant disaster. We are seeing at least 40 percent destruction and up to 70 percent damage to buildings in the neighborhood where our office stands.

Debris fills the roads and emergency responders are having a difficult time reaching the wounded. The survivors, especially the children, are going to need a lot of support for weeks and months to come.