Save the Children Rapidly Scaling Up Operation in Haiti to Meet Critical Needs

News provided by

Oct 14, 2016, 01:12 ET

FAIRFIELD, Conn., Oct. 14, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 1.4 million Haitian people, including 600,000 children, are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance following Hurricane Matthew last week. Save the Children is rapidly scaling up operations from its base in Camp Perrin and has deployed teams to provide initial relief.

By the end of the week, Save the Children aims to have helped 5,000 people with immediate needs including food, clean water, hygiene supplies, household items, mosquito nets, jerry cans and baby items.

Save the Children receives stock including medical kits, jerry cans, and essential clinical supplies that will be used to help families and children hard hit by Hurricane Matthew.

"Many families have lost everything—loved ones, homes and crops," said Kevin Novotny, Save the Children's Country Director in Haiti. "We are increasing the size of our response and working closely with the Haitian and U.S. governments and other partners to ensure that the most vulnerable get the help they so desperately need."

In addition, Save the Children's Emergency Health Unit, staffed with trained doctors, nurses, midwives and a nutrition advisor, is working to establish cholera treatment units and has three mobile health teams deployed to help meet people's basic and reproductive health needs.

Save the Children is seeking support from individual and corporate donors to help safeguard the health and safety of thousands of dislocated children and families who have survived the initial disaster but face severe challenges in the days ahead.

"For the affected children in Haiti, the immediate needs are enormous," said Carolyn Miles, President & CEO of Save the Children. "We are concerned about children's ability to get food, clean water and safe shelter, as well as the risk of cholera, psychological trauma and gender-based violence."

Save the Children's work in Haiti spans more than 40 years, and during the past two years the agency has operated programs in eight communes across Grand' Anse and Sud, two areas hardest hit by the storm. We have developed strong ties along these coastal areas, supporting 27 schools in some of the most disadvantaged communities.

To support Save the Children's work in response to Hurricane Matthew – both in Haiti and domestically, in the Carolinas – 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.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161014/428838

SOURCE Save the Children