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Haiti: Earthquake Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) DREF n° MDRHT015

Countries
Haiti
Sources
IFRC
Publication date
Origin
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A. Situation analysis

Description of the disaster

A 5.9-magnitude- earthquake occurred on 6 October 2018 at 20:12 Atlantic Standard Time (AST) at a depth of 15.3 kilometres deep. According to the Haitian government’s Technical Unit of Seismology, its epicentre was located at sea in the Turtle Canal, about twenty kilometres west-northwest of Port-de-Paix in the North-West Department. Many aftershocks were felt between Saturday, 6 October 2018 and Monday, 8 October 2018. The DPC reported 17 deaths: 9 in Port-de-Paix, 1 in Saint-Louis North (North-West) and 7 in Gros Morne (Artibonite). Additionally, at least 421 people were injured, and many of them were taken to hospitals in the North-West, Artibonite and North departments for treatment. According to the government’s initial emergency assessments, 31,132 persons need humanitarian assistance due to the partial or total destruction of their houses.

In the department of Artibonite, 42 institutional buildings such as schools and churches are either heavily or slightly damaged in Gros Morne, and 4r national and private schools are destroyed in Pilate in the North department.

Summary of the current response

Overview of Host National Society.

After the earthquake, the HRCS activated its internal disaster response protocols, in coordination with the activation of the National Disaster Response System in three departments. Additionally, the HRCS mobilized 3 vehicles and 114 HRCS volunteers and HRCS staff to provide first aide and conduct an emergency assessment with DPC in Artibonite, North West and the North. Moreover, the HRCS has pre-positioned hygiene kits, kitchen sets, jerry cans, long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets (LLITNs) and tarpaulins for 300 families in North-West. Finally, the National Society completed its emergency assessments on 12 of October 2018.

In addition, with the support of the American Red Cross in the North-West department, the HRCS dispatched its Red Cross medical relief teams on 7 October. The HRCS also:

  1. Activated its headquarters’ emergency operations centre (EOC);

  2. Coordinated with the regional and local committees from the Artibonite, North and North West departments;

  3. Has participated in National Emergency Operations Centre (COUN for its acronym in French) since its activation on 7 of October 2018;

  4. Transferred 110 blood bags to the North-West department on 7 October 2018

  5. Conducted an Inventory of its stock

  6. Evaluated the field hospital to be deployed to the affected area.

  7. Distribution of Non-food items such shelter tool kits, blankets, mosquito nets, hygiene kits, jerrycans, buckets, kitchen sets and tarpaulins.