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Haiti Humanitarian Bulletin - Issue 64 | May 2017

Countries
Haiti
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

HIGHLIGHTS

  • The humanitarian community mobilized to support the Government in the event of an emergency.

  • 5.82 million people face acute food insecurity, of whom 2.35 million are in severe situation (IPC February - May 2017).

  • Eight months after Hurricane Matthew, affected people still live in precarious conditions, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.

KEY FIGURES

Number of IDPs still living in 31 camps since the 2010 earthquake (March 2017)
Source : DTM 46,691

Cumulative suspected cases of cholera Source:MSPP/DELR 5,282

Number of deaths due to cholera Source : MSPP 69

Population in moderate and acute food insecurity (IPC phase 2):

3.5 M

Population in crisis phase (IPC 3)

1.7M

Population in emergency phase (IPC 4)

>650,000

Number of children suffering from malnutrition Source : UNICEF 143,110

Number of returnees from Dominic. Rep. (Interviewed only)
Source : IOM 195,967

FUNDING

291.5 million required (US$)

19.2% funded to date

Official launch of the 2017 hurricane season

Haitian government relies on alert

June 1st marked the official start of the 2017 hurricane season in Haiti. The President of the Republic, Jovenel Moise, and his Government, as well as members of the Parliament and the humanitarian community participated in the hurricane season launch.

During the event, the President called on the National System for Risk and Disaster Management (SNGRD) to continue to mobilize their knowledge, resources and strategies so that the country could minimize losses and damages in the event of any catastrophe. In his speech, the Head of State called for joint efforts and the mobilization of all sectors in order to address the multiple vulnerabilities faced by the Haitian population and the accelerated degradation of the environment.

Involvement of humanitarian actors

This year, the rainy season that began in April has already resulted in at least seven deaths in the departments of Grand’Anse and Nord-Ouest1 and 15,000 households in need of immediate humanitarian assistance. From June onwards, this rainy season will coincide with the average hurricane season in the region for a period of five months, which will last until 30 November 2017. Usually, hydro-meteorological phenomena are most severe during this season.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there is a 70% probability of 11 to 17 named storms, out of which 5 to 9 could become hurricanes, including 2 to 4 major hurricanes (category 3, 4 or 5)3 . Over the past 15 years, the country has faced hurricanes that have caused major loss of lives, made many people vulnerable and led to loss of properties and infrastructures. In 2016, Hurricane Matthew killed more than 540 people and affected about 2.4 million people.

Humanitarian agencies support the Government and local authorities through a decentralized coordination structure. In preparation for the cyclone season, they mobilize and pre-position contingency stocks. When the threat is imminent, the Haitian Government activates the National (COUN) and Departmental (COUD) Emergency Operations Centres to centralize information and coordinate needs assessments and responses with the humanitarian community.

At the event, the Humanitarian Coordinator ad interim renewed the commitment of the humanitarian community to support the Government within its capacities and available resources in the event of a crisis. He reiterated the readiness of the humanitarian community to assist coordination mechanisms at both national and local levels in order to avoid duplication and better serve the affected and most-at-risk populations. In addition, during the first ever-visit of the Director of the Haitian Civil Protection (DPC) to the Dominican Republic’s National Emergency Commission (NEC), the two entities committed to develop a joint response plan in the event of a disaster on the island, with the support of OCHA and other international partners.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.