Conflict, Humanitarian and
Security Department (CHASE)
Haiti Earthquake 2010
1900 hrs 20 January 2010
Headlines:
• A series of major earthquakes struck Haiti on 12 January in the area around the
capital, Port-au-Prince. The strongest of these occurred at around 1700 hrs local
time and was reported at 7 on the Richter scale. There have been many
aftershocks.
• There is still no accurate, reliable or agreed number of people killed or affected,
the Government and UN reported that 80,000 people had already been buried
but this can only be taken as a minimum final tally.
• A second earthquake of 6.1 on the Richter scale hit Haiti at 1100 hrs (UK time).
The UK search and rescue team (SAR) was immediately deployed to Petit
Goave, the epicentre of this quake, about four hours west of Port-au-Prince and
were also asked to take command of the German and Polish SAR
• The IFRC flight chartered by DFID arrived in Port-au-Prince. A DFID flight with
vehicles and life support equipment arrived in Dominican Republic today and a
second will depart tomorrow, 21 January. Three DFID flights of relief items are
planned for 23 and 26 January.
• DFID is funding Merlin which has a NHS surgical team embedded in its
assessment team. The team arrived today and will soon be working in a surgical
facility in the centre of Port-au-Prince. Some of the Merlin team have headed
west to assess Carrefour and Leogane.
• Two Assessment Capacities Project (ACAPS) (Part of the UN assessment
process) staff members have deployed to assist the clusters in preparing for and
conducting joint assessments. DFID estimates that first findings will be available
by second week of February.
• A Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) will also be rolled out in the coming
weeks with a scoping mission at the end of January. This will be coordinated by
UNDP, World Bank and EC.
• Distributions of assistance continue to be hampered by a lack of formal systems,
road conditions, fuel and the need for security escorts.
• Food: Current caseload is 2 million. As of 19 January we calculate around
210,000 people have received a seven day ration. A further 250,000 Meals
Ready to Eat (MREs) have been distributed and NGOs have reached 130,000
with some form of food assistance.
• WASH: 20 complete water purification units are operational in Port-au-Prince
and water production capacity is up to 200,000 litres per day. According to
DINEPA (national water authority) and the WASH cluster, there is no more need
for additional water purification units, as there is sufficient production capacity
either in country or arriving. However the main issue is limited distribution and
storage capacity.
• Shelter: The total caseload for the shelter cluster is 200,000 families (1 million
people). A comprehensive Shelter strategy is being elaborated by the Shelter
Cluster to be approved today. The cluster has now divided into Shelter/NFI and
Camp management clusters. Field team reports that the 100,000 person
settlement reported this week is now unlikely to go ahead and that smaller
camps would be established instead. IDPs are being encouraged by the
government to join any family they have in districts not affected by the
Sanitised Haiti Earthquake Sitrep - 1900 hrs 20 January.doc
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Conflict, Humanitarian and
Security Department (CHASE)
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earthquake and transportation support for this movement is being planned.
People from Port-au-Prince are beginning to arrive in other parts of the country.
The Red Cross and other organisations have begun to deliver food to these
groups, however the number of beneficiaries are expected to rise as the influx
continues.
Logistics: The UN has designated Santo Domingo as humanitarian relief
operations hub and has established an airbridge and trucking capacity. Airport
coordination at Port-au-Prince has improved slightly, although remains stretched
with around 160 flights arrived on 19 January. UNHAS passenger service from
Santo Domingo is now operating 2 flights a day from Mon-Thurs. The seaport
remains non-operational, but the US military hopes to have it open in 2-3 days.
Health: Main gaps are untreated trauma wounds, infection of wounds, lack of
post surgery care, maternity care and triage for the injured and sick within
spontaneous settlements. PAHO is trying to organise a comprehensive health
sector assessment. PAHO has flights en route to Haiti carrying medicines and
supplies that can treat 165,000 people for one month, plus drugs and equipment
to treat 1,000 people with trauma injuries. 18 hospitals in Port-au-Prince are
reported as having operational capacity all supported by international medical
teams. Functioning health facilities are stretched to the limit.
The Government of Haiti has designated eight zones for the distribution of
humanitarian assistance. Each zone will receive direct support by a GOH
Minister to coordinate the relief effort.
Banks could not reopen on 19 Jan, and are instead planned to re-start on 21
Jan.
For clarification - OHCHR (not UNICEF) is leading on Protection.
SAR teams have now rescued over 120 people.
Sanitised Haiti Earthquake Sitrep - 1900 hrs 20 January.doc
20/01/2010
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Conflict, Humanitarian and
Security Department (CHASE)
UK Response:
• The DFID assessment team continues to work in country.
• UK SAR teams continue to work in affected areas, both in the capital
and surrounding areas.
• DFID funding now stands at £20 million.
International and Local Response:
• The Flash Appeal for $575m is 22% funded however total funding
(inside and outside the appeal) is now $397m with uncommitted
pledges of $952m meaning that if all commitments are met $1.3 billion
dollars will have been donated.
• Over £25 million has been raised so far through the DEC.
• There were some minor corrections to the Flash Appeal making the
revised total request $575 million (previously $562 million).
• IFRC Preliminary Appeal has been revised to £63.5m.
• UN has announced a CERF allocation of $25 million.
• ECHO has increased its contribution to EUR 30 million.
• Twelve clusters are active representing all sectors of the Flash.
Key issues/Analysis of Assessments
• Security situation: still calm with isolated incidents of looting and
disorder, although MINUSTAH starting to notice a rise in violence.
Shots were fired near the airport yesterday, but such incidents are
somewhat normal in Haiti. An uplift in peacekeeping mission personnel
by 2,000 troops and 1,500 police has been approved by the security
council.
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