HAITI: EARTHQUAKES

January 17, 2010

Aid agencies have arrived in Port-au-Prince and are expanding operations to meet the needs of
the estimated 3 million people affected by last week’s earthquakes. The Red Cross, UN and other
relief agencies on the ground are coordinating response plans in the sectors of food; health; water,
sanitation and hygiene; shelter and non-food items; and emergency telecommunications. Relief
agencies are dividing service delivery responsibilities to avoid duplication and as many survivors
are reached as quickly as possible.

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• On January 18, American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern is scheduled to travel
to Port-au-Prince with the President and Secretary-General of the International Federation of
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation).
• Supplies for a 50-bed Red Cross field hospital arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday and the
hospital is currently being set up. Plans for expansion of Red Cross medical services are
underway, including the deployment of a referral hospital.
• To date, a total of 15 Red Cross Emergency Response Units (ERUs) have been mobilized to
provide a range of support. The newest ERUs deployed are a massive sanitation module and a
second base camp to support the needs of relief workers on the ground.

CURRENT SITUATION

• Logistics – Port-au-Prince airport capacity

remains limited, as space allows only 18 aircraft
to offload at time. The U.S. and Canadian
militaries contributed equipment to expedite the
offloading process, but insufficient transport and
fuel make it difficult to move arriving goods to
other locations. The Port-au-Prince seaport is
likely to remain inoperable for 60 to 90 days.
Some in-bound shipments are being diverted to
Cap Haitien seaport for onward transit by truck.
The capacity of seaports at Saint Marc and
Gonaives are also being examined as potential
alternatives.
• Search and rescue – Approximately 1,500 rescue Judith Betrand, 10 attended by a Dominican Red
Cross volunteer in Cite Soleil, Port-au-Prince.
workers and 115 dogs are searching for survivors Talia Frenkel / American Red Cross
in priority areas. Their combined efforts have
resulted in a total of 58 rescues to date. Teams have searched approximately 60 percent of the
most affected areas of Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas.
• Health –Six field hospitals, including one from the Red Cross, are en route or being set up,
and ongoing assessments will help determine the locations to prioritize. Major health
concerns remain untreated trauma wounds and infection of wounds, as well as infectious
diseases, diarrhea, lack of safe drinking water and sanitation.
• Shelter – An estimated 1 million people are in need of immediate shelter and relief items. The
government of Haiti has identified 14 sites to establish formal camps for persons displaced by
the earthquake.
• Water – The Port-au-Prince water supply system is now partially operational and damage
assessments have begun for individual pumping stations. The Red Cross is providing clean
water to displaced persons in camps, and these activities are expected to expand as two Water
and Sanitation ERUs arrive in the coming days.

THE AMERICAN RED CROSS RESPONSE

The American Red Cross Relief Emergency Response Unit (ERU) in Port-au-Prince is now
receiving and coordinating the distribution of relief supplies.

The Red Cross is training 40 to 100 Creole-speaking volunteers to work as translators on the
USNS Comfort, where Haitians will be brought aboard for medical care. At the request of the U.S.
military, American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces staff will provide supervisory support.

THE INTERNATIONAL RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT NETWORK

The American Red Cross and the Haitian

National Red Cross (HNRCS) are among the
186 members of the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(International Federation). Federation
members work together and with the
International Committee of the Red Cross to
help communities around the world prevent,
prepare for and respond to disasters and other
crises.

HNRCS facilities are not yet operational, with

particular damage to the blood transfusion
center and first aid stocks. A central
coordination point has not yet been Samantha Eskvowitz with Beatrice Abbot, a spontaneous
established. volunteer at Cite Soleil. Credit: Talia Frenkel / ARC

The mobilization of 15 ERUs represents the largest mobilization since the 2004 Tsunami. The
ERUs are made up of staff and volunteers from Red Cross Societies of each of the following
countries: Switzerland; Great Britain; Spain; Denmark; Italy; United States; Belgium, the
Netherlands, and Luxembourg; France; Norway; Canada; Germany; Finland; Sweden; Japan;
Austria.

THE SUPPORT OF DONORS

The American Red Cross can accept gifts designated to the ongoing response to the earthquakes
in Haiti, but asks that donors consider making a gift to the International Response Fund. Donors
can help the victims of countless crises around the world each year by making a financial gift to
the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and
long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need.
Donations to the International Response Fund can be sent to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box
37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575
(Spanish). Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

To learn more about the work of American Red Cross in the U.S. and around the
world, please visit www.redcross.org.