Haiti Floods - Save the Children Emergency Response 2008

Within the span of just over one week at the end of August and beginning of September Hurricanes Fay and Gustav and tropical storm Hanna swept through Haiti causing widespread destruction throughout the country. While needs assessments are far from complete it is estimated that up to 800 000 people are in need of humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance. The number of Haitians directly and indirectly affected by the extreme weather conditions is much higher. A large majority of the population was already facing extreme hardship with 53% living on less than one US dollar per day while prices for staple foods have increased over 40% since the beginning of the year. CIDA funding helps Save the Children Canada to enhance the abilities of 7 000 severely affected families in the communities of Cabaret Fonds Verrettes and Ganthier in the West Department of Haiti to withstand public health risks and promote resiliency by providing them with essential potable water hygiene bedding and kitchen kits.