Food distributions running smoothly, focus on women and children, much work still to be done
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Thanks to well laid plans and careful coordination, massive food distributions have been conducted safely and smoothly since Sunday, even in volatile areas. World Vision and other aid groups are conducting programs to meet basic needs beyond the life-saving focus of the initial disaster response. Still, there are pockets of Port-au-Prince not receiving aid.
Situation Update:
- More than 480,000 people have left Port-au-Prince for outlying areas. Many are staying with families, but the support systems in these outlying communities are being stretched.
- Schools unaffected by the earthquake opened Monday, but rebuilding Haiti's education system remains a long-term priority.
- While access to food and supplies is improving; shelter remains an urgent need.
Food Distributions:
- World Vision staff provided two-week rations to women on behalf of some 16,000 households in Delmas, Nazon and Cite Soleil. By the end of distributions on February 3, more than 415 metric tons of rice were distributed for the benefit of more than 66,000 people.
- The distributions are part of a joint effort between the World Food Program and eight relief agencies in which 1.6 million people are expected to receive food.
- World Vision's distributions will benefit an estimated 400,000 people over the next few weeks.
Maternity Kits:
- Many pregnant women are not able to deliver in local hospitals because of building damage and overcrowding from quake-related injuries.
- For women who must deliver in camps or away from hospitals, World Vision distributed 100 maternity kits in Bristou et Marie outside of Port-au-Prince.
- The kits, provided by the United Nations Population Fund, include soap, surgical gloves, clean sheets, sterile razors to cut the umbilical cord, plastic clips to secure it, gauze, sterile water for cleaning and a swaddling cloth for the babies.
- The distributions are part of World Vision's larger health response plan, which includes, equipping mobile health clinics with supply kits, providing supplies to hospitals, and offering health and nutrition education.
Child Protection and Child-Friendly Spaces:
- World Vision is conducting child protection activities at four settlements in the Port-au-Prince area.
- Staff established a "child-friendly space" at Lycee Petionville on Monday, providing theater, dance, music, snacks and water to 100 children on the first day of activities.
- World Vision is actively referring children to UNICEF for reunification services
Donations can be made online at www.worldvision.org or by phone at 888-56-CHILD. World Vision also has launched an SMS text giving option. Texting "GIVE" or "WORLD" to 20222 will make a $10 donation to the Haiti relief fund.
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor – regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information, please visit, www.worldvision.org/press
SOURCE World Vision U.S.
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