96,000 food rations distributed

After a first phase of massive food distributions during which ACTED distributed rice to over 430,000 people, our teams have been implementing targeted food distributions for the past 10 days aimed at 96,000 identified vulnerable populations. Specifically targeted by ACTED, these isolated women, children and other earthquake affected households with no livelihoods receive food items, namely rice, beans, salt and oil, which will cover their nutritional needs for 2 weeks.

1.2 million people remain without proper shelter

Today, after first tackling the food emergency, the number one priority are sheltering the 1.2 million people who remain outside 2 months after the earthquake and improving fast the sanitary conditions that are deteriorating day after day. As the raining season is approaching, relief agencies are trying to prevent water-borne diseases from spreading in the earthquake affected areas such as Port-au-Prince or Leogane.

Overpopulation, lack of space to properly build latrines, showers and decent areas to host populations without proper shelters are some of the challenges faced by ACTED and the other relief agencies when providing humanitarian aid in this urban environment. The decongestion of the spontaneous settlements, the identification of new host areas for the construction of temporary shelters for the populations which have remained outside for the past two months are some of the foreseen solutions.

From massive emergency distributions to targeted relief aid

In order to prevent any crowd issues in the gathering areas of Port-au-Prince as well as in the West area (Leogane ande Gressiers), which would further complicate the operations already in place, people should be encouraged to remain where they are, next to their homes. ACTED is working on new approaches to help affected-populations to remain next to their houses by building family latrines of by setting up individual access to clean water sources to households instead of massive water distributions.