Haiti Earthquake - Water Sanitation and Hygiene Services - Oxfam-Québec 2011

22 March 2011 - 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 million people have been affected by the disaster many of whom require ongoing humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs. With support from CIDA Oxfam-Québec aims to improve health conditions for some 3 500 earthquake-affected families (approx. 17 500 people) in Port-au-Prince Gressier and Léogâne through the reduction of their vulnerability to life-threatening vector-borne diseases and through the improvement in the quality of potable drinking water and sanitary conditions. Oxfam-Québec is building latrines and showers and distributing family water filters to ensure that people have a steady access to drinking water and can maintain good hygiene practices. Working with other organizations who provide shelter to beneficiaries Oxfam-Québec addresses their water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs.