Remember Haiti?

Still In Critical Need

Top U.N. humanitarian official, Valeria Amos, asked the world not to forget about the 600,000 earthquake survivors who are still fighting to rebuild their lives in Haiti.

Amos stated: “Part of my job is to make sure we do not forget about Haiti. The situation of the people in the camps is still very critical.” Much of Haiti is still fighting to rebuild structures, water and sanitation systems, and basic living quarters.

According to OCHA, the U.N. humanitarian agency, figures show that “of the total $382 million required from donors this year, only $199 million had been funded.”

Last year’s aid, and the numerous relief efforts led by auxiliary agencies, has cut the amount of people living in tents and camps within Port-au-Prince in half, but that still leaves roughly 600,000 Haitians remaining in camps. 

Of the many tasks and relief efforts needed to bring Haiti back from the destruction of the earthquake, water sanitation is a must: “if we do not in particular sort out the water sanitation we will have a resurgence of cholera,” said Amos.

The 2010 earthquake claimed the lives of more than 300,000 people, leaving even more homeless. Due to poor water conditions, over 6,300 people have died due to the cholera epidemic.

Included with the water sanitation necessities, Amos also hopes to see reform in landowners evicting camp dwellers, heightened camp security to prevent rape and sexual attacks, and the removal of destroyed buildings, debris, and rubble.

Read more at Reuters.