"Surrounded by rubble, people are standing up – women, mothers, fathers, children – and UNICEF’s role will be to help Haitians stand up together, to turn their hopes into reality, and to ensure that children grow up with access to the full range of services they need to survive and thrive, reaching their full potential to contribute meaningfully to the development of their nation".
Françoise Gruloos-Ackermans
Representative
UNICEF Haiti
The deadliest earthquake on record in the Western Hemisphere hit Haiti on January 12, 2010.
The situation was devastating. The earthquake in Haiti compounded the very difficult humanitarian conditions that already existed. Before the earthquake, the odds for Haiti’s children were already against them: one out of every 13 infants died before the age of five and over 30 per cent of children under five were chronically undernourished. It was declared a children’s emergency.
For the past six months, UNICEF has been instrumental in ensuring the survival, development and protection of children. This is our key priority. On the ground UNICEF leads the coordination of international partners in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Education and Nutrition. In part, thanks to UNICEF’s leadership, so far in this humanitarian response, there has not been an epidemic or disease outbreak, nor has there been an increase in malnutrition.
The situation in Haiti remains more than precarious. The children of Haiti continue to need our undivided attention and our efforts must continue. Recovery and reformation will not happen in six months. The over 20 million cubic metres of rubble and debris - at the current rate of removal, 300 truck loads a day – alone could take six years to finish. The road ahead is long, but we must stand alongside the people of Haiti with renewed commitment to help them realize their dream of a Haiti fit for children.
Join Us - Help build Haiti back better
UNICEF has been working in Haiti for over 60 years and we are committed to recovery efforts to rebuild Haiti as a better place for all Haitians.
A monthly contribution to the 365 DAYS FOR HAITI campaign would provide:
Education: getting children back into school is important and provides support for emotional trauma.
Clean Water: clean water sources, water containers and water treatment tablets help ensure safe water for drinking, washing and cooking.
Nutrition: access to medical support on the ground and therapeutic food ensures help gets to the most vulnerable children and babies.
Safety: reuniting children with family, child protection and preventing child trafficking are critical.
YOUR MONTHLY DONATION CAN DO SO MUCH
Sign Up now for 365 DAYS FOR HAITI
Subject: Donncha's Diary - Day 1
Hello from New York – I'm on my way to Haiti as part of my role as an Ambassador for UNICEF Ireland
This is my second trip with UNICEF – last summer I visited UNICEF programmes in South Africa after the Lions Tour was finished. I know that this trip will be very different from last time.
It's hard to believe that six months have already passed since the earthquake in Haiti killed over 200,000 people. I find it hard to get my head around the numbers – so many lives lost and there are over three million children still in need of UNICEF's help.
During the next few days, I'll let you know what I'm up to in Haiti. Every day, I'll be seeing for myself the work that has been done since January – can you believe that UNICEF help distribute over clean water to over 1.2million people every day?
I was swotting up on the work that has taken place since the earthquake over the weekend and it's incredible to find out about what's been happening in Haiti to protect children.
Nearly 300,000 children have been immunised to prevent outbreaks of diseases like measles that can spread very quickly in the camps. Over half a million children are already back in temporary schools – I'm visiting one of these schools on Thursday. There's a lot of great work done but I know this is only the beginning of a very long road to Haiti's recovery.
I hope you'll follow my trip this week! I'll be keeping you updated every day on where I've been and what's happening. I know a lot of people in Cork donated to UNICEF Ireland's Haiti Appeal so I will be able to let you know how that money is making a real difference to children's lives.
I'll be staying at the UNICEF Camp for the week – where most of the UNICEF staff live. I can't wait to meet them and hear their stories about what the last few months have been like. So many of them lost loved ones too in the earthquake – I must not forget that.
If you want to help UNICEF and our ongoing work in Haiti – we have a special Haiti 365 Campaign – where you can donate just 5 Euro a month for the next 12 months to help UNICEF's ongoing work in Haiti.. Log onto www.unicef.ie or call 01-878 3000 for more information – just think, what 5 Euro will buy us here at home .... a beer, or a magazine or a few scratch cards .... but in Haiti – it will help re-build a child's life – I hope you'll consider signing up today.
Until tomorrow,
DO'C