Plan continues to assist in Haiti's earthquake aftermath
 A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck the Haitian coast on 12 January, rocking the capital, leaving over 200,000 dead. 3 Million people have been affected.
Plan has worked in the country since 1973, and is working closely with government, emergency services and other organisations to respond to the needs of children and assess the situation.
Do you sponsor a child in Haiti? Regional information on sponsored children is being updated here.
Distribution of food and water continues. Shops and banks have reopened, although their provisions are still out of reach for most normal Haitians. Especially as the capital has been so severely affected provision of services such as healthcare continues to be problematic. The rainy season has started and is adding extra difficulties to the situation, especially as most of the population of the entire country are currently sleeping outside. Plan is currently prioritising child protection, water and sanitation, and health, as well as education and psycho-social support for children.
Vital distributions and construction
Vital Plan aid shipments are getting through despite the problematic logistical situation. Plan has distributed food to tens of thousands of people. Thousands of tents and 'family kits' containing soap, towels, cups, nappies and toilet paper have been distributed. Plan is facilitating the construction and management of showers, latrines, and other waste disposal.
Plan is currently overseeing the creation of 60 HousAll unit prefabricated structures to serve as temporary schools around the affected region. The units are hurricane resistant, and have a life expectancy of 10 years.
Plan Haiti Director Rezene Tesfamariam said the devastation in the capital Port au Prince was on an “unimaginable” scale.
"I have seen bodies all along the main street of Port-Au-Prince. I heard the voices of children trapped in the rubble. I’ve worked for Plan for 27 years. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
A land of children who have not lost hope
Staff from neighbouring Dominican Republic are assisting, and specialist Disaster Response staff have been sent to Haiti. One of them, Dr Unni Krishnan, explained that Haiti's youthful population has it's own particular challenges. "Haiti is a land of children. Nearly 60 per cent of its people are under 19. This calls for a focused approach responding to an earthquake that turned much of an already struggling country into rubble."
"Children in Haiti have lost their families, their homes and their schools but they have not lost hope,” says Plan UK’s chief executive Marie Staunton.
“They are often seen merely as victims in disasters but actually they come up with just as many creative and effective ways to cope as adults.”
“Young people also have excellent communication networks and can be a key to preventing and minimising the impact of disasters.”
Plan is currently training local youth facilitators and and journalists in Port-au-Prince and Cape Hatian, as well as organising focus groups with young people around the country - the results of which are being fed directly into the offical government/UN Post Disaster Needs Assessment process.
Cash for work now, training later
In Jacmel and Croix-des-Bouquests, Plan is implementing cash-for-work projects. Cash-for-work schemes, implemented by Plan and others, provide local people with an income for much-needed early recovery work such as clearing rubble. The pilot will pay by the wheelbarrow for rubble.
Longer term plans include combining these schemes with professional training, targeted at young people. Those interested who have worked under the scheme can go on to be trained in earthquake and hurricane-safe construction.
Help us assist affected children and their families
Plan staff are on the ground assessing the situation and assisting families. Plan UK has pledged £1million towards emergency relief and recovery work in Haiti. But more money is urgently needed to help save and rebuild lives. Help us reach more children, make a donation to Plan's emergency work in the country by calling our freephone 0800 1300230 or donating online .
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