January 21, 2010

Background

On January 12, at 5:22pm local time, a series of earthquakes ranging from magnitude 6.5 to 7.3 struck Haiti in the highly populated area of Department Ouest, 10 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince.

Key Developments

· Logistics bottlenecks are hindering the ability of relief operations to meet the massive humanitarian needs on the ground. Although the Red Cross and other relief agencies are reaching new earthquake survivors daily, the needs continue to outweigh available resources on the ground. We are working with the U.S. government to discuss how these issues can be alleviated.

· A total of 19 Red Cross Emergency Response Units (ERUs) have been activated for the response, of which eleven have arrived and are operational, delivering medical care, clean water, logistics and telecommunications support. Yesterday, a third Relief ERU was deployed to help meet expanding shelter needs.

· The Red Cross continues to reach affected areas outside of Port-au-Prince, establishing first aid posts and assessing water needs for earthquake survivors. Inside Port-au-Prince, distributions of relief supplies, delivery of clean water and medical care continues.

Numbers at a Glance

Estimated deaths	75,000	Government of Haiti – 1/20/10
Number injured	200,000	Government of Haiti – 1/20/10
Total population in need of shelter	1 million	International Organization for Migration – 1/20/10
International Federation Response: Emergency Appeal Disaster Relief Emergency Fund	US $103.3 million US $491,265	International Federation – 1/15/10
American Red Cross Response	· Relief Emergency Response Unit · IT/Telecommunications Emergency Response Unit · FACT team delegate · 2 logistics delegates · 1 communications delegate · Relief supplies for 10,000 families	American Red Cross – 1/21/10

Current Situation

· Overview

Despite logistical and security constraints, the Red Cross and other relief agencies are reaching an increasing number of earthquake survivors. Medical supplies, water and sanitation, tents, blankets, food, fuel and transport equipment continue to be priority needs. Although search and rescue efforts continue, the priority is now shifting to dignified disposal of the deceased. Many earthquake survivors continue to leave Port-au-Prince to seek shelter with family in other parts of the country, potentially expanding the geographic areas that will require humanitarian support.

· Security

The security situation remains precarious, but there have been no reports of serious incidents. The UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) continues to escort humanitarian convoys as they travel from the border with the Dominican Republic into Port-Au-Prince, as well as between the northern ports of Haiti and Port-au-Prince. Approximately 3,500 MINUSTAH forces are patrolling the capital. The American Red Cross Relief ERU is working closely with the Haitian National Red Cross Society (HNRCS) to socialize relief distributions and defuse tensions. In addition, the Red Cross has a security coordinator in place to coordinate security issues for the Red Cross response.

· Search and Rescue

Search and rescue teams are conducting secondary reconnaissance missions throughout Port-au-Prince following yesterday’s aftershock, as structurally unsound buildings may have collapsed. To date, international search and rescue teams have rescued 121 people. At the peak of efforts, at least 52 teams – including Red Cross teams from Colombia, Mexico and Ecuador – with more than 1,800 rescue workers and 175 dogs were searching for survivors in priority areas. As teams gradually conclude activities, many personnel are assisting with other relief activities. For example, the Mexican Red Cross team is now joining the American Red Cross in support of relief distributions. Search and rescue activities will continue until the Haiti government officially decides to cease operations.

· Logistics

Fuel: Fuel remains a critical issue for humanitarian operations, and is hindering the ability of all relief sectors to deliver needed food, water and supplies at full capacity. The logistics cluster has organized the delivery of 10,000 gallons of fuel per day by truck from the Dominican Republic, and the water, sanitation and hygiene cluster has secured an additional 5,000 gallons per day exclusively for water distribution.

Access: The Port-au-Prince airport remains heavily congested, with approximately 150 planes landing daily. According to OCHA, following repairs to the south pier of the port at Port-au-Prince, the first ship was able to land with 123 metric tons of goods. The port is expected to reopen completely by the week of January 25. Additional ports are open in other locations, but with varying restrictions. For example, the Cap Haitien port is fully functioning, but has limited to no fuel available. The majority of relief supplies and equipment continue to be routed along the Santo Domingo–Port-au-Prince road, where congestion is result in an 18-hour average travel time.

· Health
According to OCHA, the health cluster is working closely with the newly established National Commission for the Management of the Crisis, which includes the Health Ministry, to support the following national priorities: establishing mobile clinics in all spontaneous settlements; ensuring the availability of obstetric care and delivery kits; and coordinating healthcare service delivery with the health cluster. In addition, following assessments of five major hospitals, the health cluster has prioritized the reinforcement of hospital staff and medical waste cleanup. Assessments are also looking at hospital infrastructure, referral systems and the organized transportation of patients.

Multiple Red Cross medical teams continue to meet urgent needs. The field hospital set up at Hopital Universitaire is treating 70 to 100 patients per day. The two Basic Healthcare ERUs continue to provide services, as teams set up at the Haitian National Red Cross Society (HNRCS) Bicentennaire Medical Clinic and near the Red Cross base camp. An additional Basic Healthcare ERUs is on the ground and is working to establish services in Jacmel once equipment has arrived. The Dominican Red Cross and the Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo are setting up a field hospital in Jimani, Dominican Republic. Pending clearance, a third field Red Cross field hospital is scheduled to arrive in Port-au-Prince on January 22.

The U.S. military hospital ship, USNS Comfort, arrived in Port-au-Prince yesterday with a capacity of more than 1,000 beds, and is already receiving patients by helicopter. Creole translators trained by the American Red Cross are scheduled to join the USNS Comfort tomorrow.

· Shelter/Relief Items

Site selection and camp planning: The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is working with shelter cluster partners to plan for camp management, and continues to assess sites to determine suitable locations for temporary settlements. To date, IOM has assessed 300 sites across Port-au-Prince (up from 181 yesterday) that are now home to 370,000 people. IOM estimates that approximately 1 million people in Port-au-Prince are currently in need of shelter support. A Brazilian MINUSTAH battalion is leveling land for a 30,000-person tented settlement at Croix de Bouquets. The Inter-American Development Bank is planning to build permanent houses for all persons relocated to the site.

Provision of shelter and relief items: In coordination with IOM, the Red Cross is focusing on providing shelter and relief items to the homeless, as well as support to host families that are housing displaced earthquake survivors. A third Relief Shelter ERU and two Red Cross shelter experts are deploying to help support the large-scale shelter program emerging on the ground. Relief agencies continue to work toward procuring sufficient tents for the planned camps. The Red Cross is working to provide 10,000 tents, including 2,900 (to meet the needs of 14,500 people) from the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is prioritizing emergency shelter options that enable people to remain on or adjacent to the site of their original homes and livelihoods where possible, offering a range of shelter relief options for different caseloads. According to OCHA, the government of Haiti has requested that all shelters be in place prior to the onset of the rainy season in April.

The American Red Cross Relief ERU in Port-au-Prince continues to receive and distribute incoming relief supplies, in coordination with the Haitian National Red Cross Society, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other Red Cross partners. On January 20, Relief ERUs on the ground provided family kits including tarpaulins, blankets, kitchen sets and hygiene kits to 2,700 people. In total, an estimated 25,000 people were expected to receive relief supplies through the humanitarian community yesterday. The Red Cross has already distributed vouchers to prepare for expanded distributions in the coming days, and is also working to mobilize and train additional local volunteers to assist in relief distributions. To date, 22 Red Cross flights have landed in either Santo Domingo or Port-au-Prince, carrying 100 tons of relief supplies.

· Food

The government of Haiti has requested that food assistance take into account regions not directly affected by the earthquake due to price hikes and food shortages reported across the country. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) estimates that 2 million people are currently in need of food assistance, which includes 1.8 million people who were food insecure prior to the earthquake. WFP is establishing four humanitarian hubs to deliver food assistance in Port-au-Prince, as well as at 30 other locations across Haiti. WFP is currently distributing one-week emergency rations in the form of high-energy biscuits and ready-to-eat meals. Once this is complete, WFP plans to transition to rations that provide a 60-day supply of dried goods, initiating food-for-work activities when possible to rehabilitate streets and public buildings.

· Water and Sanitation

Water: There is still a huge need for water supply in settlements and hospitals. Approximately 82 water distribution sites are operational in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. Relief partners are working to install additional water bladders to increase storage capacity at the sites, with 20 bladders installed to date. The water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) cluster reports that additional hygiene items, such as soap and water containers are needed in settlement sites.

The WASH cluster strategy is to purify existing water and transport by truck. The main priorities are continuing daily distribution of water to the affected population and increasing the number of water trucks to facilitate distribution. Two Red Cross Water and Sanitation ERUs are now on the ground distributing water from existing sources and distributing to those in need in camps by truck; an additional Water and Sanitation ERU is en route. The water trucking program is expected to reach 200,000 people. The ICRC has established daily water trucking to three locations in Port-au-Prince, serving 12,000 people. Red Cross ERUs have assessed water needs for 17 camps with plans for water provision.

Sanitation: WASH cluster partners have constructed approximately 1,000 latrines serving approximately 50,000 people to date, a number expected to double in the coming days. The makeshift settlements in Port-au-Prince are a concern due to limited latrine capacity. Two Red Cross Mass Sanitation ERUs are en route, with arrival pending airport priority.

· Migration

People continue to leave Port-au-Prince for unaffected areas in the south and south west of the country. The Haitian government’s free transport service for people wanting to leave Port-au-Prince remains active and many are leaving affected areas. According to MINUSTAH, populations are arriving in Grande Anse, Nippes, South and Southeast departments. The provision of tents and other items to these populations and the installation of organized, structured transit centers will be needed.

· Protection

Relief agencies are encountering children who have been separated from their families. The protection cluster has established a 24-hour help line to assist with the identification and tracing of children. UNICEF reports that it will be setting up child centers to provide 900 children with tracing/reunification, food, psychosocial support and medical assistance.

· Restoring Family Links (RFL)
ICRC, in partnership with HNRCS, has opened a tracing center at its headquarters in Port-au-Prince to allow survivors to register and make contact with loved ones. As of January 19, nearly 24,000 people had registered with the ICRC's family linking website. Almost all of the registrations were from people searching for news about their relatives; 1,800 of these people have so far used the site to say they are safe and well.

Maps

International Humanitarian Action Overview – OCHA – January 19, 2010

Humanitarian Operational Challenges – OCHA – January 18, 2010

Damage Assessment of Major Buildings / Infrastructure – UNOSAT – January 16, 2010

Haiti Internally Displaced People – UNOSAT – January 17, 2010

Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement Response

American Red Cross

• As part of an integrated Red Cross response, a five-member American Red Cross Relief Emergency Response Unit (ERU) is on the ground distributing incoming relief items. Two additional American Red Cross delegates have deployed to assist Red Cross logistics teams in both Port-au-Prince and at the Red Cross regional warehouse in Panama City. A communications delegate is also on the ground in Port-Au-Prince. To meet needs, an additional IT/Telecommunications ERU is deploying and should arrive today.
• An American Red Cross disaster specialist is supporting the multi-national International Federation Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT) which is coordinating the Red Cross relief operation and performing assessments to determine levels of damage, specific needs and available resources.
• The American Red Cross also has made available all relief supplies stored at its warehouse in Panama and is in the process of procuring additional supplies to meet priority needs for a total of 10,000 families.
• American Red Cross chapters have begun to provide support to Haitian-American citizens arriving in the United States. At least 600 evacuees received clothing and other support upon arrival in Florida.
• The American Red Cross is coordinating shipments of blood and blood products to Haiti at the request of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The American Red Cross also provided blood and blood products to the U.S. Navy to help Haitian medical patients evacuated to facilities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In addition, the American Red Cross has sent a shipment of blood products to the UN Mission in Haiti.
• The American Red Cross is training approximately 70 Creole-speaking volunteers to work as translators on the USNS Comfort, where Haitians will be brought aboard for medical care. At the request of the U.S. military, American Red Cross Service to Armed Forces staff will provide supervisory support on board the ship.
• The American Red Cross will continue to respond to the ongoing situation and act in coordination with the International Federation and global Red Cross network.

Haitian National Red Cross Society (HNRCS)

• Haitian National Red Cross Society staff and volunteers continue to provide valuable support to the relief operation, working with Red Cross teams providing food, water, first aid and other logistical assistance. It is notable that these staff and volunteers have been gravely affected by the disaster themselves having lost homes and loved ones.
• HNRCS facilities were badly affected and are still not operational, with particular damage to the blood transfusion center and first aid stocks.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation)

• The International Federation has released a Revised Emergency Appeal for US $103.3 million to help meet the immediate needs of 300,000 people (60,000 families) over the next three years. Thousands of Red Cross workers representing 30 countries are currently assisting with relief efforts in the region.
• In addition to deploying a Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT), the International Federation has mobilized 19 Emergency Response Units to provide support in logistics, relief and shelter, water and sanitation and healthcare, including specialists to meet basic health needs as well as provide complex care through a field hospital.
• The International Federation is coordinating the response through its Panama-based Pan American Disaster Response Unit (PADRU) which is providing coordination, logistics and supplies.
• The International Federation is coordinating the global Red Cross network response with the UN and other relief agencies on the ground.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

• The International Committee of the Red Cross continues to distribute medical assistance to major hospitals, clinics and smaller facilities, by flying in relief supplies and supplying medical kits. They have also been providing water and latrines. In addition, they are providing services in communication and security activities.
• The ICRC is coordinating family tracing activities and has set up a tracing center at their headquarters with HNRCS to allow survivors to register that they are alive and well, and contact family members by phone.
• The ICRC is also working with the HNRCS to advise the Haitian authorities on the proper collection of information on the dead and on the dignified handling of bodies.

United Nations and Government Response

United Nations

o The UN has released a Flash Appeal valued at US $562 million to support the efforts of 29 relief agencies seeking to meet the needs of 3 million people during the next six months. The UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released US $25 million in support of the appeal.

o The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has mobilized a United Nations Disaster and Assessment and Coordination Team (UNDAC) as well as staff from its regional office in Panama. Multiple UN agencies are active on the ground, including the World Health Organization and the World Food Programme.

U.S. Government

o USAID’s Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the lead U.S. Government office responsible for providing humanitarian assistance. USAID has already provided relief assistance valued at more than US $164 million.

o USAID/OFDA has a 29-person Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) in Port-au-Prince. Seven U.S.-based urban search and rescue teams are actively searching for survivors on the ground.

o Multiple teams from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have arrived to provide basic medical care, perform emergency surgeries and provide emergency mortuary services.

o The U.S. military is taking a major role in logistical operations, deploying teams to rehabilitate the airport and seaport, providing troops for security, as well as providing logistics support for humanitarian operations. The USNS Comfort is offshore providing hospital services.

The information in this report is compiled from a number of sources including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the U.S. Agency for International Development and involved national Red Cross/Red Crescent societies. The American Red Cross strives to provide the most accurate and timely information possible; however, all information should be considered conditional until a final report has been issued.