Haiti

Real Medicine Foundation is presently assembling a logistic and medical team to deploy as early as Sunday evening to aid in the efforts on the ground in Haiti.

The recent report from the Pan American Health Organization/WHO highlights the main challenges facing the massive humanitarian effort underway.

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Emergency Operations Center Situation Report #1
 – Haiti Earthquake

One day after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti, information is still difficult to obtain. The PAHO/WHO office in Haiti has been unable to communicate with national health authorities and UN colleagues. For the time being, information is being coordinated through the PAHO/WHO Emergency Operations Center in Washington. On the ground, the past 24 hours have been dedicated to search and rescue and immediate lifesaving activities.

CUMULATIVE IMPACT

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on Tuesday afternoon, January 12, 2010, close to the nation's capital of Port-au-Prince. The quake was felt in the Dominican Republic and as far away as Jamaica.Reports indicate a significant loss of life; there are no official numbers at this time but the Haitian President has estimated 100,000 people dead or missing.

Impact on health facilities:

• Several hospitals and health centers have collapsed in the city
  • The UN clinic at the Christopher Hotel collapsed
  • Martissant emergency room/centre (slum in Port au Prince, MSF managed) is damaged and unstable.
  • All patients evacuated and relocated to tents in the ground. 
  • MSF staff have been dealing with a flow of casualties from the town.
  • Solidarite maternity hospital, MSF-managed, severely damaged
  • Trinite trauma centre (60 beds) MSF-managed, severely damaged
  • HUEH ( University Hospital) damaged
  • New hospital on Delmas damagedEliazard Germain hospital (Petionville) damaged
  • Petits frères et soeurs (Port au Prince) damaged
• Two hospitals were also damaged in the Dominican Republic, in Barahona and Santiago.
• The Argentine military hospital that had been serving MINUSTAH personnel is being augmented by two surgical teams and supplies provided by the Government of Argentina (White Helmets).
• The airport is currently not in service. A temporary health facility has been established there to provide care.
• Roads in Port-au-Prince are extremely difficult to navigate due to rubble and large amounts of people. Roads from the border with the Dominican Republic to the Port-au-Prince appear to be open.
• MINUSTAH (UN Security building) has collapsed causing a loss of life.


PAHO/WHO RESPONSE

• The Emergency Operations Center in Washington DC is now coordinating logistics and communication.
• Experts from the PAHO/WHO Regional Disaster Response team will arrive in the Dominican Republic this evening. They will travel to Haiti on Thursday.
• The UN Health Cluster as soon as possible.
• Supplies have been released from PROMESS, the pharmaceutical warehouse of Haiti's Ministry of Health.
• Trauma kits to care for 500 victims for 10 days are on their way.
• PAHO/WHO has advanced USD 200,000 from its disaster response fund to initiate immediate critical activities.
• The PAHO/WHO office in Haiti has sustained damage and staff will be working out of temporary facilities until a structural assessment of the building is completed.

       OTHER ACTIONS

• Many PAHO/WHO member countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have offered and are mobilizing humanitarian aid to Haiti.
• USAID/OFDA office has deployed a disaster assistance response team (DART) comprised of 11 people as well as Urban Search and Rescue Teams.
• A UN Medical Emergency Response team will be sent to Haiti, including stress counselors

All teams sent to the area must be self-sufficient in terms of food and water as well as financial means (cash) as the banking system is down.