The humanitarian situation in Haiti following the January 12, 2010, magnitude 7.0 earthquake has continued to evolve. The estimated 316,000 deaths and 3 million affected individuals have necessitated a significant response from the international community. The U.S. Government (USG) has provided more than $1.1 billion to meet humanitarian needs in Haiti in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010, including over $716 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The USG’s response has focused on providing safe drinking water, food, household items, shelter, sanitation facilities, and health services to affected populations. USAID continues to work closely with other USG agencies, the Government of Haiti (GoH), international organizations, the United Nations (U.N.), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to coordinate ongoing efforts and facilitate the transition from emergency relief activities to recovery operations.
A cholera outbreak occurred in Haiti in October 2010, with the first reported cases in the Artibonite Department. The outbreak has resulted in a significant increase in the number of cholera cases, with 381,236 reported cases as of July 3, 2011. The case fatality rate (CFR) has decreased from 2.2% in October 2010 to 1.5% in July 2011. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided assistance to Haiti for cholera, including the provision of oral rehydration salts (ORS) and medical supplies.
The Shelter Cluster, led by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has completed over 73,700 transitional shelters (t-shelters) as of May 31, 2011. USAID/OFDA has supported the construction of over 25,600 t-shelters through partners, representing nearly 35% of t-shelters built by the international community. The Shelter Cluster has also repaired nearly 4,900 structures as of May 21, 2011, with USAID/OFDA supporting the repair of approximately 3,525 structures deemed “yellow” by USAID/OFDA-funded habitability assessments.
The USG has provided significant funding for humanitarian assistance in Haiti, with USAID/OFDA providing over $405 million for the earthquake response and over $66 million for the cholera response. The total USG humanitarian assistance to Haiti for the earthquake and cholera has exceeded $1.2 billion.