The Government of Haiti and the humanitarian community are calling for urgent help to tackle the worsening humanitarian emergency in Haiti in the aftermath of passage of Sandy. 39 million USD are required to meet the most immediate critical needs to address rising food insecurity and provide shelter, health services and potable water for over a million people. A joint Emergency Appeal issued by the Government of Haiti (GoH) and the humanitarian community outlines these most urgent needs and specifies the assistance required for the coming months to respond to the crisis.

The main concerns remain the agricultural sector and the risk of heightened food insecurity in the coming months. The combined effect of the three consecutive disasters since the beginning of the year – drought in the northern departments that destroyed crops earlier in the year, tha passage of Isaac in August and Sandy in October - has destroyed crops and livestock in the southern peninsula. The Government of Haiti estimates the total loss in the agricultural sector at US $104 million https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7079-haiti-agriculture-$104-million-losses-in-the-agricultural-sector.html

"This is a major blow to Haiti’s reconstruction effort, while life for the most vulnerable Haitians has become even more precarious," stressed Mr. Fisher, Humanitarian Coordinator for Haiti. "In the meantime, international partners’ ability to respond has been weakened by dwindling donor financing. Urgent support to meet both immediate humanitarian needs and recovery efforts is urgently required."

In the coming days, the Government of Haiti and its international partners will meet to discuss further interventions required beyond the critical needs identified in the appeal, for example repair and replacement of physical infrastructure and medium term solutions to housing, rural livelihoods and household food insecurity.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7079-haiti-agriculture-$104-million-losses-in-the-agricultural-sector.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-7076-haiti-humanitarian-the-government-is-launching-a-flash-appeal.html

HL/ HaitiLibre