The Government of Haiti (GoH) Department of Civil Protection issued a red alert on August 21 due to anticipated heavy rainfall and strong winds from Hurricane Irene. A 21-person team from USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (USAID/OFDA) worked in coordination with the GoH, the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and international humanitarian organizations to monitor the approaching storm and assist with preparedness and response efforts. Hurricane Irene passed over the northern coast of Haiti on August 23, causing isolated flooding but no significant damage.
According to the July 2011 International Organization for Migration (IOM) Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), nearly 595,000 people remain in 894 camps in earthquake-affected areas throughout Haiti, representing a six percent decrease in camp population since the May 2011 DTM report and a 61 percent decrease since the height of displacement in July 2010. USAID/OFDA grantees reported the completion of 28,135 transitional shelters (t-shelters) in Haiti as of September 1, an increase of 570 shelters since the figure reported on August 1.
The estimated death toll from the January 12, 2010 earthquake is 316,000, with approximately 3 million people affected. The U.S. Government (USG) provided more than $1.1 billion to meet humanitarian needs in Haiti in FY 2010, including more than $720 million from USAID. In the year following the earthquake, humanitarian efforts met the immediate needs of earthquake-affected populations by providing safe drinking water, food, household items, shelter, sanitation facilities, and health services.
USAID continues to work closely with other USG agencies, the GoH, international organizations, the U.N., and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to coordinate ongoing efforts and facilitate the transition from emergency relief activities to recovery operations while addressing identified humanitarian needs. USAID/OFDA’s emergency cholera response plan focused on preventing cholera cases, reducing the number of cases requiring hospitalization, and reducing the Case Fatality Rate (CFR). The plan included four elements: provision of chlorine to increase the availability of safe drinking water, expansion of national hygiene education outreach, provision of medical supplies and sachets of oral rehydration salts, and an increase in the number of cholera treatment facilities (CTFs), particularly in underserved and rural areas.
Between May and July 2011, 119 camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) closed; however, 12 were subsequently reoccupied, newly identified, or newly established due to IDPs arriving from other locations, according to IOM. Camp closures have not significantly affected large sites, those hosting more than 500 families, where 58 percent of IDPs reside. However, the number of small sites—those hosting 99 or fewer households—decreased by 10 percent; the number of medium sites—those hosting 100 to 499 households—decreased by 14 percent. IOM notes that small sites comprise 72 percent of the total number identified sites, yet host only 14 percent of total IDP households.