(As at 12:00 hrs, February 5, 2010)
1.0 SITUATION OVERVIEW:
Haiti continues to recover from the Earthquake of January 12, 2010.
The Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive indicated that there were more than 200,000 people dead, 300,000 injuries treated, 250,000 destroyed houses, and 30,000 disrupted businesses as of February 3.
The Government of Haiti remains challenged in managing and coordinating relief efforts and strengthening of the local systems is encouraged.
Relief and response activities although ongoing continue to be impacted by bottlenecks particularly in aid distribution. The Government of Haiti continues to collaborate on response efforts with the various humanitarian aid agencies on the ground. Some guidance has been provided by CDEMA through the Guidelines for Relief Supplies Collection Points, Warehouses & Distribution Centers which seeks to facilitate the distribution of relief supplies to the needy in a timely fashion.
According to the government more than 482,000 persons have migrated out of the capital increasing the demands on infrastructure and healthcare facilities outside the city. The provision of shelter also remains a high priority area given the upcoming start of the rainy season.
The Haitian government has also established settlement sites to house the displaced. Reports indicate that these new settlements have increased demands for public environmental healthcare, water supply and sanitation.
There has also been an increase in the price of basic commodities as migration continues to the rural areas. Schools have also reopened in unaffected areas.
More than 1000 persons daily are reportedly crossing the Jimani border into the Dominican Republic and unaccompanied children are prevalent particularly at the border increasing the risk of them being taken out of the country.
CARICOM through the egional Response Mechanism (RRM) coordinated by CDEMA is supporting the urgent need for shelter, relief supplies and other humanitarian aid.