Port-au-Prince, Geneva 12 January 2015 – Five years on from the tragic earthquake that killed over 200,000 people and left more than 2 million homeless, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has closed its Haiti earthquake appeal.
In the wake of the devastating earthquake, the IFRC raised 1.2 billion Swiss francs to meet the emergency and recovery needs of Haitian families who survived the catastrophe. Five years later, 85.3 per cent of the income has been spent on relief, recovery and long-term operations in Haiti.
- 226,000 households provided with emergency relief items
- 44,000 households provided with safe and improved shelter solutions
- 2.6 million people reached with community-based health and first-aid services
- 195,000 households provided with food assistance
- 91,000 households provided with improved water sources
- 39,000 households provided with access to an improved sanitation
- 81,000 households given livelihood support grants, loans or other form of financial support
As of 1 January 2015, the Haiti Red Cross Society is assuming full management of the operational facilities in Maïs Gaté, Port-au-Prince along with selected assets and services. As the former headquarters of the society was destroyed in the earthquake, this strategically located headquarters was acquired through the earthquake appeal and has served as the hub of operations ever since.
The Haiti Red Cross Society has recovered and developed largely through the support of its sister National Societies. Through close collaboration over the last five years, the organization has been strengthened at every level from the headquarters through to its 13 branches across the country. After 82 years of serving and supporting the country’s most vulnerable communities, the society continues to provide key humanitarian services and auxiliary support to the State.
Inés Brill, IFRC Country representative in Haiti, said the Red Cross has adapted to the post-earthquake needs of communities. “Our organisation was required to respond to the devastation in Haiti with new ways of working; the methods of problem-solving that have been adopted in Haiti over the past five years will benefit communities facing similar challenges elsewhere, she said”
Over the last year in particular, the IFRC’s focus has been on fostering community resilience to ensure people are prepared for future disasters such as the constant threat of cholera. The disease is avoidable and treatable, but an effective response needs the active support of the public, governments and humanitarian organizations. In this regard, Red Cross launched a two-year cholera elimination campaign in 2014 based on the objectives of a ten-year plan created by the Governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
In the fight against cholera, education is key. In keeping with its plan of action, the Red Cross Red Crescent has increased its community-based health and first aid programmes to promote ways of preventing common diseases.
Although the major earthquake recovery programmes have finished, the Red Cross Red Crescent will continue its focus on cholera elimination and further institutional strengthening of the Haiti Red Cross Society until 2016. The impact of these programmes will continue to be felt for decades through improved lives and livelihoods and more resilient communities across Haiti.
For more information, please contact:
In Haiti:
Gennike Mayers, Communications Coordinator IFRC
Cell : + 509 3170-9813 - E-mail gennike.mayers@ifrc.org
In Geneva:
Benoit Carpentier, Team Leader, Public Communications, IFRC
Cell : +41 79 213 24 13 - E-mail : benoit.carpentier@ifrc.org