Haiti Two Years On: Successes, Challenges, Priorities

‘Haiti Two Years After’ Report launched by children’s charity to mark anniversary of earthquake

12th January 2012: TWO years since the devastating earthquake in Haiti, progress has been steady, however commitments to children must still be honoured, says international children’s development children's charity Plan Ireland.

Plan’s ‘Haiti Two Years After: Successes, Challenges and Priorities’ report, launched today, highlights that in the past two years since the earthquake of 12th January 2010, nearly 1 million people have now left the temporary camps of Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince. In addition, almost half of all rubble - more than five million cubic metres - has been cleared, agricultural production has improved and spending by agencies on livelihoods has increased by some 30%.

Download 'Haiti Two Years After' report here

Speaking at the report launch today, Damien Queally, Programme Manager with Plan Ireland who spent a number of months in Haiti following the earthquake in 2010, said, “Huge strides have been made in Haiti in the last two years. Plan alone has vaccinated over 120,000 children, helped 138,000 children to return to school and reached over 400,000 people with cholera prevention interventions. Yet still, many children and young people still live in temporary camps and lack the most basic of resources and protection.

“In total, over 500,000 continue to live in camps and, in a country where half the nation’s population is under 18, it is this generation that continues to need our support. While progress has been made, challenges still remain. We must not allow this to become 2010’s forgotten crisis,” continued Mr. Queally.

International children’s charity Plan, who has worked in Haiti since 1973, was one of the first agencies to respond to the emergency in January 2010. Initially providing emergency response support through food distribution, water and shelter items and psycho-social support, Plan then shifted its focus towards cholera prevention. Over the past year, Plan has entered its third phase, concentrating on more long-term and sustainable community development.

“This long term support will be facilitated primarily through our child sponsorship programmes. Globally over 42,000 Haitian children are sponsored through Plan, with 190 sponsors here at home. These children and their communities are central to Haiti’s long-term recovery” continued Mr.Queally.

Sponsor a child in Haiti today

Plan’s ‘Haiti Two Years After’ report prioritises 3 key areas for Plan’s work in Haiti:

• Safe, quality education and opportunities for young people.
• Full social participation for Haitian girls, this includes campaigns targeting education, gender based violence, youth pregnancy and work rights.
• Birth registration, to enable young people to participate and benefit from services such as education, as well as helping to reduce child trafficking and tackle child abuse.

In the aftermath of the quake, Plan Ireland received donations of over €2.45m from donors including, Irish Aid, donations in kind, partners and public donations.

“The response was remarkable and continued to show Irish people’s generosity in times of need. Irish Aid alone has contributed almost €950,000 to Plan Ireland’s emergency response in Haiti since 2010,” Mr Queally continued.

“Plan believes that the Government of Haiti must fulfill its responsibility and take leadership on shelter, healthcare, education and economic growth. We remain optimistic that this can be achieved and we are committed to supporting the children and young people of Haiti to rebuild their lives.”

To sponsor a child in Haiti with Plan Ireland, or find out more information about Plan Ireland’s work, please visit www.plan.ie or call 1800 829 829.

ENDS

For more information contact Sarah Harte, Media & Communications Officer, Plan Ireland. Tel: 01 659 9601 / Mob: 087 985 8259. Email: sarah.harte@plan-international.org

Notes to the Editor:

• To download a copy of Plan’s report ‘Haiti Two Years After: Successes, Challenges and Priorities’ and access high resolution JPEGs visit: http://mediabank.plan-international.org/?c=6561&k=ff98e89dcd

• Plan has operated in Haiti for almost 40 years, since 1973, and currently has projects in the following areas: Beudet, Cayes-Jacmel, Croix-des-Bouquets, Dolney, Fort-Liberté, Frères, Jacmel, Lavallée, Ouanaminthe and Trou-du-Nord.

In the last 24 months, Plan has:

o Helped over 138,000 children return to school.
o Built 257 classrooms in Jacmel and Croix-des-Bouquets, as one of the first international NGOs to have plans for semi-permanent schools approved by the Government.
o Provided access to psychosocial support to over 14,000 people (12,000 being children).
o Provided work for over 36,000 people to strengthen the economic coping capacity of families.
o Provided over 22,000 people with tents and basic living provisions in the direct aftermath of the earthquake. Plan Haiti partnered with the Irish NGO Haven to provide 100 small wooden houses to mothers with young children who had lost their husbands during the earthquake.
o Reached more than 400,000 people in Plan’s emergency cholera response work.
o Vaccinated over 124,000 children for measles, diphtheria and tetanus.

• In total, Plan Ireland received €2.45 million for emergency response in Haiti from Irish Aid, donations in kind, partners and public donations.

• Irish Aid have contributed almost €950,000 to Plan Ireland’s emergency response, cholera, water and sanitation response in Haiti since 2010.

• On 6th June 2011, Haiti’s Institute of Social Well Being and Research (IBESR), the Ministry of Social Affairs, Plan Haiti and other international NGOs partnered to help President Michel Martelly and First Lady Sophia Martelly launch the National Week and Day of the Child. Street children stood up and sang a rap song for the Martellys.