Emergency aid rushed to victims of the Haiti earthquake

Emergency aid funded by Plan donors has enabled us to provide food, clean water, shelter, and other emergency supplies to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti.



You can help Plan reach more children and families in Haiti. Donate today.

Since the earthquake, Plan’s response has included:

• Feeding 1,500 Haitian families every day for the past week;
• Distributing emergency shelter, including tents for more than 30,000 people in Jacmel and Croix des Bouquet;
• Providing kits with emergency supplies for more than 33,000 people;
• Protecting children and providing psychosocial care especially to those who have lost or been separated from their families.  

Increasing signs of emotional trauma

At 6 AM local time on Tuesday, January 19 — one week after the devastating earthquake — Haiti was hit by a powerful aftershock lasting about ten seconds. The earthquake, 35 km to the north of Port au Prince in Petit-Goâve, caused widespread panic as people fled buildings to escape the damage.

The panic and distress following the aftershock were indicators of the major emotional trauma experienced by many as a result of the earthquake.

Plan’s assessment of children and their families in Croix des Bouquet has revealed increasing signs of emotional trauma in children. In addition to their physical needs for survival and development, many children will require psychosocial care and support.

To integrate this care and support into the response as soon as possible, we are currently working with children to help them overcome the trauma of the earthquake. So far 250 children have taken part in Plan’s therapeutic games clubs, which provide them with a break from the misery of life on the rubble strewn streets.

Relief efforts helped by arrival of fuel

The relief efforts continue and, with the arrival of 12,000 gallons of diesel, the fuel shortage which was hindering the distribution of food, water and non-food items has been relieved temporarily.

Secure distribution of relief, however, remains difficult as more than 300 makeshift camps are located around the city. Many still need basic necessities and some services (such as field hospitals) are running low of supplies. The sense of frustration and abandonment amongst the traumatized population living on the streets and in the camps continues. Despite this, the situation remains relatively calm and security chiefs advise that looting and violence have been localized.

Plan is on the ground in Haiti providing food, water and other vital supplies to earthquake survivors.

Make your emergency donation today. You can help us provide emergency relief to as many children in Haiti as possible.

Information for sponsors: Plan staff are currently focused on emergency efforts and cannot follow up on individual sponsored children at this time. If you are a sponsor of a child in the affected area, please know that we will contact you directly if we receive any news about your sponsored child.