Children Exceptionally Vulnerable in the Wake of Hurricane Matthew in Haiti

Concerns over basic needs, cholera, gender-based violence, education

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Oct 09, 2016, 04:19 ET

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Oct. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the full extent of the devastation in Haiti becomes known, children are not only unable to access basic necessities and medical care but are also facing a unique set of risks that make them particularly vulnerable, Save the Children is warning.

Kids play on a fallen tree, caused by Hurricane Matthew, in front the neighbors' house in Lakil de Leogane village where they live. Two days after Hurricane Matthew hits Haiti, villages along the coastline are devastated by flood and damages from falling trees. Most residents have not received any help yet. Photo Credit: Bahare Khodabande for Save the Children

Save the Children is on the ground volunteer walks through piles of garbage after Hurricane Matthew reached Port-au-Prince. Canals, which are normally filled with garbage, flood and cover the streets. The photo was taken in Martissant neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. Photo Credit: Bahare Khodabande for Save the Children

Parents carry their children to a shallower spot of the river where they can carry them across. As Hurricane Matthew hit the South West of Haiti, the bridge in town of Petit Goave collapsed causing a commute disruption for aid workers and residents trying to escape the storm. Two days later, the residents try to get back to their houses by walking through the river while digging machines continue to make it possible for vehicles to get through. Photo Credit: Bahare Khodabande for Save the Children

Save the Children's emergency response team was in the hard hit areas of Sud and Grand' Anse on Saturday and reported seeing numerous children lacking basic necessities and without adult supervision. Reports also indicate at least 2,000 children who have been separated from their parents or were living in orphanages have been evacuated.

"It is critical that we support families during this time," Kevin Novotny, Save the Children's Country Director in Haiti said. "Children are at risk of gender based violence and placement into orphanages or long term domestic servitude if their parents are unable to provide them with food and meet other basic needs. We cannot allow this to happen."

Save the Children's emergency response team is working with staff and partners to assess damage done to schools we support as well as provide food to some shelters and identify needs for non-food items. We have also deployed our emergency health unit, which will help with cholera prevention and basic health services.

"We are in a race against time to avert a mass cholera outbreak," Dr. Unni Krishnan, Director of the Emergency Health Unit said. "Recent emergencies such as Ebola and the cholera outbreak in Haiti in 2010 have highlighted the urgent need for clearer, more streamlined health responses. Our emergency health unit meets that need. It responded to yellow fever in DRC and will make an important contribution in Haiti."

Additionally, up to 130,000 vulnerable children nationwide are estimated to be out of school. Early estimates are that 50 percent of the 131 schools we support in Sud, Grand' Anse and Port au Prince have been damaged.

"It is imperative that children return to school as soon as possible," Novotny added. "Being in school gives children a sense of normalcy and a feeling of security that is missing during disasters. Where children cannot immediately return to school, we will be setting up child friendly spaces, so children have a place to be safe and engage in educational play while their parents start the recovery process."

Save the Children has worked in Haiti since 1978. To support our work in response to Hurricane Matthew, please visit: savethechildren.org/Matthew.

Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Kevin Novotny, Save the Children's country director in Haiti (+509 3701 4223), Dr Unni Krishnan, director of the Emergency Health Unit (+61 428 541 822), and Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children are available for comment. Please contact Erin Taylor ([email protected]) to arrange an interview.

Media contact: Erin Taylor ([email protected]), 267-250-8829

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SOURCE Save the Children