Goto main content

Massive needs in Haiti but lack of funds for hurricane victims

Emergency
Haiti

Three weeks after Hurricane Matthew hit the southwest and northwest of Haiti on 4th October, 1.4 million Haitians still need humanitarian aid. To help the most vulnerable people, Handicap International has deployed a team of nine emergency specialists to areas affected by the hurricane.

Andrénise Pierre, 20, mother of Donaldson, almost died when Hurricane Matthew devastated the city of Les Cayes.

Andrénise Pierre, 20, mother of Donaldson, almost died when Hurricane Matthew devastated the city of Les Cayes. | © B. Almeras / Handicap International

Portrait d'Hélène Robin, responsable des opérations d'urgence à Handicap International“We don’t currently have the financial resources to provide an adequate response to a disaster of this magnitude. Needs are enormous and varied.

Our teams are making every effort to meet people’s essential needs, but we don’t have the means to ensure people are able to get through this latest ordeal, or to help them recover again.”

Hélène Robin, coordinating the emergency operations from Handicap International’s head office

 

Deployment of mobile teams

Two teams of three experts have been deployed to the city of Les Cayes to case-manage injured people. Consisting of a project manager for specific needs (particularly rehabilitation), a psychological support manager, a physiotherapist and a social worker, each team assessed the state of hospitals and rehabilitation services in order to provide support to local facilities. Each team also supplies mobility aids (wheelchairs, crutches and walking frames), provides emergency rehabilitation care to people injured by Hurricane Matthew and offers psychological support to help victims overcome their trauma. 

“Haitians are very resilient, but a lot of people have been psychologically shaken by the hurricane. They need to express their feelings as part of their therapy.  We’re setting up discussion groups as a first step to helping people overcome their trauma,” explains Fanélie Rabanx, head of the psychosocial project.

Distributions of emergency kits

Handicap International is organising the distribution of emergency kits containing a toolbox, rope, fastenings, sheets, and other items, so that affected people can build shelters and live in decent conditions again.  The organisation also plans to distribute essential household items including jerrycans and torches, as well as hygiene kits in order to limit the spread of epidemics such as cholera, with the number of infections already high in communes including Chardonnières, in the department of Sud. 

“When the hurricane hit our neighbourhood, Fondrède, I really thought it was all over. The roof of our home fell on top of us and we escaped to our neighbour’s house.  

We didn’t stay long because we didn’t want to be a burden on them.  Today, we’re back, but we don’t have a roof or any crops.  We’ve lost everything,” explains Inès Virgile, 32, mother of five children.

Logistics platform 

“Our priority is to enable casualties, families who have lost everything, and the most isolated people to access humanitarian services,” adds Hélène Robin.

Due to problems accessing certain areas affected by the hurricane and in order to access the most isolated communities, the organisation has beefed up its team of logistics specialists.  It will organise the transport of humanitarian aid by sea using the services of local carriers with boats, or by road.  The aim is to enable humanitarian actors working in isolated regions to receive supplies of items for the local population and to distribute them to people who need them, even the most isolated.

Humanitarian situation in Haiti
•    Number of people affected by Hurricane Matthew: 2.1 million
•    People in need of humanitarian assistance: 1.4 million
•    Displaced people: 175,500
•    Homes destroyed: 146,000

Handicap International team in Haiti asses the needs of injured people.

© B. Almeras / Handicap International

Emergency appeal

Handicap International UK has launched an emergency appeal to support disabled and vulnerable people affected by the disaster in Haiti.

Please donate online now or text HIUK01 £5 to 70070.

Date published: 27/10/16

COUNTRIES

Where we work

Read more

“I still have pieces of metal lodged in my leg and spine”
© M.Monier / HI
Emergency Explosive weapons Rehabilitation

“I still have pieces of metal lodged in my leg and spine”

Elena, 53, was injured in a bomb attack last March in Ukraine. A few days later, her daughter was also injured. Thanks to Humanity & Inclusion's support, her daughter is now being looked after in a rehabilitation centre.

Ukraine, 1,000 days on: civilians are still the main victims of armed violence
© M.Monier / HI 2024
Emergency Explosive weapons Health Rehabilitation Rights

Ukraine, 1,000 days on: civilians are still the main victims of armed violence

20 November 2024 marked 1,000 days since the escalation of the war between Russia and Ukraine. The impact of this war on civilians is catastrophic on many levels.

Anicha: “My dream is to be able to walk on my own!”
© T.Adnan / HI
Emergency Rehabilitation

Anicha: “My dream is to be able to walk on my own!”

Now aged 38, Anicha lived confined to her home for many years because of her disabilities. Her encounter with Humanity & Inclusion changed her life.

FOLLOW US