Haiti Earthquake - WFP Logistical and Telecommunications Support Flash Appeal 2010

January 21 2010 - On January 12 2010 a massive earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked Port-au-Prince the capital of the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti. It is estimated that up to 3 000 000 people have been affected by the disaster either through injury or through loss of access to life-sustaining necessities such as food water sanitation services and shelter. With Canada’s support the World Food Programme (WFP) is providing essential air transportation and logistical support to the humanitarian community in its efforts to provide timely and effective assistance to the affected population. This support enables the humanitarian community to implement emergency relief activities in areas inaccessible by surface transportation including the transport of passengers and key humanitarian relief items and provides the capacity for timely assessments and medical evaluations. WFP's establishment of emergency telecommunications systems supply-chain management and storage facilities is further increasing the humanitarian community's capacity to respond to the crisis.