Haiti Emergency Appeal
People with disabilities are most vulnerable in Haiti earthquake
People with disabilities are the most vulnerable in the Haiti disaster and require immediate assistance if they are to have any fighting chance of survival – aid organisation CBM highlighted today.
Reports show a very high level of injuries and trauma suffered by the survivors, many of whom require immediate orthopaedic surgical intervention and rehabilitation. Physiotherapy, mobility aids, and psycho social support are required in the longer term to prevent further disabilities.
CBM has been working in Haiti since 1976 through several disability programmes, including five in the worst effected area of the capital city, Port-au-Prince.
CBM has been unable to communicate with two of its projects who are understood to have suffered severe destruction to their infrastructure. Among these is the Eye Department of the University Hospital, located near the presidential palace, which is not responding to communications. CBM is also trying to confirm reports of casualties among its own staff. An additional team of CBM workers left on Wednesday in order to assist field staff and coordinate the relief operations.
The majority of its work in Haiti concentrates on children with disabilities who live in rural and slum areas. CBM said it is likely that many of these children have been killed or injured and they will need urgent assistance.
CBM Ireland Programme Manager Ben Gobin, who has worked in the field in Haiti, said reports he had received from the ground were that CBM and other aid organisations were ”working in close collaboration with partners on the ground and concentrating on immediate interventions such as re-establishing surgical capacity and assessing immediate basic needs such as providing shelter, blankets, clothing, food, water and medical care.”
Ben Gobin continued: “Haiti is the poorest nation in the Americas, the major destruction occurred in the lower part of Port au Prince where hundreds of thousands of the most destitute people live in slum areas. Among them people with disabilities are the most vulnerable, often finding it difficult to find essential help and care.”
“Much more disability is caused during times of disasters and emergencies due to severe trauma causing multiple fractures. These cases require urgent and expert intervention immediately in order to prevent disability in the future. We hope, once order has started to return to Haiti and the emergency has passed, to help the reconstruction and continue our long term support for people with disabilities to lift themselves out of poverty. After decades of political instabilities, civil unrest, extreme poverty and environmental degradation, the country was already on it’s knees before this terrible event.”
The magnitude of the disaster is still unknown but a statement by the Prime Minister has said that that as many as 100,000 have died and over three million victims are in need of immediate assistance.
CBM supported programmes in Port-au-Prince include;
The Grace Children’s Hospital which provides mother and child health services including diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, malaria and HIV as well as primary health programmes and paediatric consultations for new born children.
The Centre d’Education Speciale for early detection, intervention and care of children with intellectual disabilities.
The Eye Department of the University Hospital of Port-au-Prince which provides 24 hour outreach services to the public and provides training for ophthalmologists funded by CBM.
The University Hospital of Port-au-Prince - The Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic
Societe Haitienne d'Aide aux Aveugles - A rehabilitation centre for people with visual impairments which provides training in orientation and mobility skills, daily life skills, Braille and basic education.
Cure International Hospital - A community health hospital
CBM / Scherrer CBM / Grossman
St. Vincent's School for Special Education Grace Children's Hospital - Port au Prince
Port au Prince