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Most Recent Disaster Declaration:
Haiti Cholera Outbreak, 10-22-2010

After receiving verification from the Government of Haiti (GoH) Ministry of Health (MoH), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), the GoH officially confirmed a cholera outbreak on October 21—the first such outbreak in nearly a century for Haiti, according to the U.N. World Health Organization.  On October 20, USAID first received reports of an outbreak of acute watery diarrhea, with cases confined primarily to 12 areas of Artibonite Department, where approximately 1,500 people had been hospitalized and more than 150 individuals died, according to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince.  Cases were also reported in one area of Central Department.  Caused by consuming water or food contaminated with cholera bacteria, cholera thrives among people living in unsanitary and crowded conditions.  The GoH made a formal request for U.S. Government (USG) assistance for the establishment of temporary cholera treatment centers adjacent to health facilities.

On October 22, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth H. Merten issued a disaster declaration due to the cholera outbreak.  In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Haiti for the procurement and distribution of emergency relief commodities, such as blankets, buckets, and cleaning and disinfectant supplies.  In addition, USAID/OFDA provided 1,000 cholera beds to the International Organization for Migration, an existing USAID/OFDA grantee in Haiti, to increase response and treatment capacity by health officials.  On October 22, USAID/OFDA deployed a health advisor to support the USG response effort.

In addition, USAID/OFDA post-earthquake projects continue in Artibonite Department through PAHO, the Center for International Studies and Cooperation, Save the Children, Handicap International, and the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for health and water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, as well as support for coordination mechanisms.  USAID/Haiti, the CDC, and USAID/OFDA continue to monitor reports from implementing partners, MoH representatives, local health officials, and Health Cluster members working in affected areas.   

Additional Disaster Declarations:
Haiti Earthquake, 10-05-2010

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, conditions that could create humanitarian needs remain for populations affected by the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck southern Haiti on January 12, 2010, killing an estimated 230,000 people and affecting approximately 3 million others, according to the Government of Haiti (GoH). During the following months, humanitarian efforts met the immediate needs of earthquake-affected populations through the provision of safe drinking water, food, household items, shelter assistance, sanitation facilities, and health services. However, as of the end of September, approximately 1.2 million earthquake-affected individuals remained displaced in more than 1,300 spontaneous and planned settlement sites. While international assistance efforts are shifting to activities supporting recovery—with a particular focus on the provision of longer-term shelter solutions, rubble removal, contingency planning, and livelihoods recovery—USAID/OFDA notes that additional resources may be requested to meet humanitarian needs identified during the recovery process and during the ongoing rainy and hurricane seasons.

On October 5, U.S. Ambassador Kenneth H. Merten renewed the Haiti earthquake disaster declaration for FY 2011. To date, the U.S. Government has provided more than $1.1 billion to meet humanitarian needs, including nearly $368 million from USAID/OFDA. Staff at the USAID/OFDA Program Office in Port-au-Prince continue to coordinate assistance with the GoH, other USG agencies, relief organizations, and other donors to help facilitate the transition from relief to recovery.

Additional Disaster Declarations:
Haiti Earthquake, 01-13-2010

On January 12 at 1653 hours local time, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck southern Haiti. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake epicenter was located 10 miles southwest of the capital Port-au-Prince, West Department. Numerous significant aftershocks followed the initial quake. According to the U.N., the earthquake caused extensive damage in Port-au-Prince, including to the Haiti presidential palace and the U.N. Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) headquarters. An unknown number of people remain trapped under collapsed buildings, including a hospital in Petionville town, West Department. International media cited the Government of Haiti as reporting at least 100,000 deaths from the earthquake as of January 13, with the number of casualties expected to rise in the coming days. Humanitarian organizations expect a considerable number of affected individuals to require emergency shelter assistance and other relief items.

On January 13, U.S Ambassador to Haiti Kenneth H. Merten declared a disaster due to the effects of the earthquake. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an initial $50,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince for the implementation of an emergency response program. In addition, USAID/OFDA has deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) to Haiti and has activated a Washington D.C.-based Response Management Team to support the USAID/DART. Two USAID/OFDA-supported heavy urban search and rescue (USAR) teams from Fairfax County, VA, and Los Angeles County, CA, each composed of approximately 72 personnel, 6 search and rescue canines, and up to 48 tons of rescue equipment, have deployed with the USAID/DART. USAID/OFDA expects to support up to two more heavy USAR teams from Florida to deploy to Haiti.

On August 26, Hurricane Gustav passed over Haiti, producing heavy rains and winds, particularly affecting Gonaïves Department as well as Cotes de Fer, Bainet, Jacmel (Marigot), Aquin, and Petit Riviere de Nippes in Southeast Department. Beginning on September 1, the approach of Tropical Storm Hanna led to additional rainfall throughout Haiti. Heavy rains produced floodwaters up to three meters deep in Gonaïves, according to the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince. On August 30, the Government of Haiti (GOH) Civil Protection Directorate announced that flooding had led to 76 deaths, left 9 people missing, injured 35 people, forced 8,789 people to evacuate to shelters, destroyed 2,121 houses, and damaged an additional 8,155 houses. Flooding and landslides cut off land routes and hampered humanitarian access.

On August 28, the first member of a three-person USAID/OFDA team arrived in Haiti. The team worked closely with USAID/Haiti to coordinate the U.S. Government’s humanitarian response with the GOH, U.N. agencies, and other humanitarian organizations. Overflights, assessments, and relief agency meetings also began on August 28.

On September 2, U.S. Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson issued a disaster declaration in response to Hurricane Gustav and resulting flooding throughout Haiti. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $100,000 through USAID/Haiti for the purchase and distribution of emergency relief supplies for displaced populations and for the support of early recovery activities.

Haiti Food Crisis , 04-28-08

Between August 2007 and March 2008, the price of basic food commodities increased by up to 65 percent. In November 2007, heavy rains and floods damaged infrastructure and crops in critical production areas, making the recovery of high-cost products difficult. The food price increase led to widespread civil unrest throughout the capital city of Port-Au-Prince and the provinces of Gonaives, Jacmel, Les Cayes, Petit Goave, and St. Marc from April 7 to April 11. On April 12, the Haitian Parliament approved a vote of no confidence, calling for the formation of a new government.

On April 28, U.S. Ambassador Janet A. Sanderson determined that the current food crisis warranted U.S. Government emergency assistance and requested USAID/OFDA disaster support. In response, USAID/OFDA provided $150,000 in consultation with USAID/Haiti through non-governmental organizations for relief activities, including the purchase and distribution of seeds to farmers in urban and peri-urban production areas for the coming growing season.

For information on additional USAID disaster responses in Haiti, please see OFDA Annual Reports.

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