The earthquake that struck southern Haiti on January 12, 2010, resulted in an estimated 316,000 deaths and affected approximately 3 million people. The U.S. Government provided more than $1.1 billion to address humanitarian needs in Haiti in Fiscal Year 2010, with over $716 million from USAID. Humanitarian efforts in the aftermath of the earthquake focused on providing safe drinking water, food, household items, shelter, sanitation facilities, and health services.
In response to the cholera outbreak, which began on October 22, 2010, USAID deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to provide emergency response efforts, technical assistance to the Ministry of Public Health and Population (MSPP), and support to relief agencies. The DART transitioned to a Haiti program office on January 27, 2011.
USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) developed an emergency response plan to address cholera cases, reduce hospitalizations, and decrease the case fatality rate (CFR). The plan consisted of four elements: increasing the availability of safe drinking water through chlorine distribution, expanding national hygiene education outreach, providing oral rehydration salts (ORS) and medical supplies, and increasing the number of cholera treatment facilities, particularly in underserved and rural areas.
As of April 21, 2011, the overall cholera caseload trend continued to decrease or stabilize throughout Haiti, with approximately 2,000 hospitalizations per week. The number of hospitalizations stabilized at the end of March. Cholera caseloads were increasing in West and Nippes departments, but the overall caseload trend remained positive.
The U.S. Government provided humanitarian assistance to Haiti, with a total of $1,611,706,094 allocated for the earthquake response and cholera response. USAID/OFDA provided $367,588,999 for the earthquake response and $63,436,354 for the cholera response. The total USAID, State, and DoD humanitarian assistance to Haiti for the earthquake was $1,611,706,094.
As of May 1, 2011, USAID/OFDA grantees completed 21,566 transitional shelters, sufficient to house 108,000 beneficiaries, and an increase of 1,150 t-shelters since April 13. Additionally, USAID/OFDA grantees repaired approximately 3,098 structures deemed “yellow” by habitability assessments, benefiting 4,333 households or more than 21,600 people.
The humanitarian context in Haiti remains complex, with ongoing efforts to address the needs of earthquake-affected populations and the cholera outbreak. USAID continues to work with other USG agencies, the Government of Haiti, international organizations, the U.N., and non-governmental organizations to coordinate efforts and facilitate the transition from emergency relief activities to development programming.
The U.S. Government remains committed to supporting the people of Haiti in their recovery and development efforts. USAID/OFDA continues to work closely with USAID/Haiti, USAID/OTI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the humanitarian community to coordinate efforts and facilitate a smooth transition from emergency relief activities to development programming.