A CHARITY has launched an emergency appeal to help people affected following the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last Saturday.

Christian Aid is behind the international relief efforts on the Caribbean island which is still recovering from the 2010 earthquake that killed 300,000 people and Hurricane Matthew in 2016.

More recently, the nation are dealing with the coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of the assassination of its president in the midst of tropical storm Grace.

Latest figures of those killed in the disaster surpassed 2,200 while the exact amount remains uncertain and rising daily as the search for survivors continue.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed, roads are cut off due to landslides, power lines and communications have been damaged, leaving behind people’s means to make a living. The Departments South, Grand’Anse, South West and Les Nippes are the worst affected. 

Christian Aid and its local partner organisations are currently working in Camp-Perrin, Maniche, Les Cayes, Saint Jean, Torbeck and Chantal. Women and girls, the elderly and people with disabilities are most affected by the crisis and are at the highest risk of being denied access to services and support in the aftermath.

Initially people will need emergency shelter, food, drinking water, access to healthcare and protection assistance but in the long-term they will need housing, livelihood and psychological support.

Marc Pascal Desmornes, Regional Programme Manager for Christian Aid in Haiti said: “The destruction and loss caused by the earthquake can affect multiple aspects of peoples’ lives and well-being, both physically and socially. We see families moving to wherever they can to stay safe with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

“Swaths of Haitians are facing growing hunger and healthcare services are already overwhelmed by Covid-19. Access by road to the South region, where the quake struck, has been restricted by gang control of areas, raising questions over how aid will be delivered. Gang groups will be one of the main issues and risks for gaining humanitarian access in the days, weeks and months to follow.”

He added: “Right now, we don’t have figures on how many homes have been destroyed or how many people have been displaced but what we do know is that the people of Haiti are resilient. But how much more can we take?”

“Following the 2010 earthquake, contingency plans were put in place for similar natural hazards. However, given the current political and security situation it’s not always possible to implement them.”

“Our partners report that people are already questioning whether they will spend years in tents, as they did after the earthquake that hit the country eleven years ago.”

To donate to the Haiti Earthquake appeal, please visit Christian Aid.org.