ReliefWeb

Situation in Numbers

55,6701
# of people in need of humanitarian assistance
22,8252
# of children in need of humanitarian assistance
703
# of schools damaged or destroyed

Highlights

• On 6 October 2018, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Haiti (Artibonite, North and North-West departments).

• 18 deaths and 548 injured have been confirmed; 11,134 families have been affected, and an estimated 55,670 people need humanitarian assistance, according to the Directorate of Civil Protection (DPC). In terms of infrastructure, 1,417 houses have been destroyed while 9,717 houses are damaged, as well as at least 70 schools which are destroyed or damaged.

• The Government of Haiti is leading the response through the DPC and the National and Departmental Emergency Operation Centers (COUN/COUD) with support from UN agencies and other humanitarian partners.

• UNICEF deployed five staff within 36 hours following the earthquake, to support the first assessment and response operations. A contingency Programme Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with NGO partner Action Contre la Faim (ACF) has been activated to support the Government in rapid damage assessment and needs analysis, and initiate immediate response activities including the distribution of dignity and hygiene kits, and the installation of water storage bladders in shelter sites, as well as emergency psychosocial support in the affected areas.

• Considering the limited impact of the earthquake and the Government of Haiti’s leadership of the emergency response, UNICEF does not anticipate any additional funding needs. Current stocks of supplies prepositioned with NGO partners and Government are sufficient to meet priority needs.

Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs

Significant damages have been confirmed in 20 municipalities in the three affected departments of Artibonite, North and North-West departments. According to preliminary data from national authorities, 1,417 houses have been destroyed and 9,717 are damaged; the public hospital of Port-de-Paix has been severely damaged, and at least 70 public and private schools have been damaged or destroyed and are not functioning.
Based on on-going assessments, priority needs requiring urgent humanitarian assistance include WASH, temporary shelter, temporary education and protective spaces, child protection including psychosocial assistance, as well as support to the health system.
Preliminary information points to temporary shelter needs notably in the North-West Department. Population displacement to safer areas have been recorded following continued aftershocks during the first few days. Nine sites (in schools, university and church) hosting more than 875 displaced people are being used as shelter. Additional shelter sites have also been reported in other localities1.
In Pilate (North department): the drinking water supply system has been damaged which resulted in a 20 per cent reduction in water supply. However, water trucking is not deemed necessary at this stage. The COUD in the North department has reported 2,900 affected families in need of hygiene kits.