Haiti, two years on: Making a new start
Press release // Handicap International UK
London, 11th January 2012. Two years ago tomorrow, Haiti was hit by an earthquake which claimed the lives of 220,000 people and affected over three million1. Handicap International, active in the country since 2009, played a significant role in the disaster response, with a level of commitment that far outweighed its previous emergency operations. The organisation has now decided to continue its work in Haiti beyond the emergency phase, in order to support the Haitian people as they move into a phase of reconstruction and development.
“The Haitian people are just beginning to turn the page after the 2010 earthquake, but there is still a huge amount of work left to do,” stresses Benoît Aurenche, Handicap International’s Project Manager in Haiti. Benoît was in Port-au-Prince when the earthquake hit and has carried out a series of missions in the country over the last two years: “The emergency humanitarian response was essential, a much needed sticking plaster. Today, it is vital that the focus shifts to development actions. The Haitian people are extremely concerned about what is going to happen next.”
“It would be irresponsible to stop our activities now,” explains Patrick Senia, Head of Development Operations. It is essential that the Haitians themselves can provide the health services that have been temporarily made available by humanitarian organisations. It is also important to ensure the long-term social and economic inclusion of vulnerable persons. Now is the time to make the required efforts that will allow the country to genuinely make a new start.”
Handicap International’s objectives for 2012 are to finalise its emergency actions; implement structures to reduce the impact natural disasters have on the population; and ensure the provision of care and inclusion of people with disabilities in Haitian society.
It is in this spirit that the services provided at the orthopaedic fitting centre, opened by the organisation to help earthquake victims, are currently being transferred to local organisations. "After two years working to support the victims of the earthquake, it is time to demonstrate that the humanitarian solutions put in place were not just a stopgap”, emphasises Patrick Sénia. “This first and foremost requires training, increased involvement from our partners (who can guarantee the long-term results of the projects) and support for drawing up public policy. Handicap International hopes to continue its activities in Haiti until people with disabilities in the country have access to their rights. We are determined not to give up until we reach this goal.”
Our work in figures (since January 2010)
Temporary shelters built: 1,050
People benefiting from orthopaedic fitting: 1,459
Rehabilitation sessions: 4,500
Basic healthcare and rehabilitation sessions: 90,000
Total number of staff at the height of the intervention: 600
Number of expatriate staff at the height of the intervention: 80
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Footnotes
[1] Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the world, was also hit hard in 2010 by the outbreak of a cholera epidemic and unrest related to the general elections (a process which finally reached its conclusion at the start of 2011).
Notes for editors
Already present in Haiti since 2008, Handicap International was able to provide a rapid response to the devastating earthquake that hit the country on 12thJanuary 2010. The organisation had already been coordinating an inter-agency logistics platform in Haiti for the transport of humanitarian aid following the four cyclones that hit the country in summer 2008. On 26th January 2010, the UN and the WHO entrusted Handicap International and the German organisation CBM with jointly coordinating all rehabilitation actions for injured people across Haiti, the fitting of orthopaedic devices and the provision of assistance to people with disabilities. Handicap International received funding from the UK Department for International Development for its emergency work in Haiti.
Beatrice Cami
Email: beatrice.cami@hi-uk.org
Tel: +44 (0)870 774 3737 | Mobile: +44 (0)7525 101 026
www.handicap-international.org.uk
www.twitter.com/hi_uk
About Handicap International
Co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Handicap International is an international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Working alongside people with disabilities and vulnerable populations in over 60 countries worldwide, we take action and raise awareness in order to respond to their essential needs, improve their living conditions and promote respect for their dignity and fundamental rights.
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