MEDIA RELEASE: Save the Children Races to Reach Children in Haiti’s Earthquake Zone, Warns of Increasing Threats

20 January 2010 – New Zealanders have responded generously to Save the Children’s Haiti Emergency Appeal by donating over $190,000 but much more assistance is needed.

One week after a devastating earthquake struck Haiti and left tens of thousands of children and adults dead or homeless, Save the Children is racing to bring lifesaving supplies to quake survivors and warning that children are increasingly endangered.

“The scale and complexity of this disaster are enormous, and children and their families are still struggling to find the basic necessities of life. Food, water, shelter and medicine are in short supply — and conditions in makeshift camps are degrading. The threats to children’s health and well-being grow every day they do not receive help,” said Annie Foster, the team leader of Save the Children’s emergency response. While we face infrastructure and logistical challenges, they are not insurmountable. We are doing everything we can to bring supplies into the country and deliver them to those who need it most.”

Save the Children has distributed food, water and hygiene supplies to a hospital in Port-au-Prince, which is affiliated with two orphanages, reaching more than 2,000 people. More lifesaving aid is on the way. The organisation received 15 tons of medicines and medical supplies, half of which will be provided to Port-au-Prince medical facilities and the other half which will be used in Leogane on the coast.

Haiti faces the highest rates of infant and child mortality in the Western hemisphere with diarrhoea, respiratory infections, tuberculosis among the leading causes of death.

“Even before this disaster the situation for children in Haiti was precarious – 80% of the population lived on less than US$2 a day, one in four children were suffering from malnutrition. Mothers and babies were dying of preventable illness before last week’s earthquake. The earthquake has decimated the health infrastructure – jeopardizing the lives of even more children" said Foster.

As well as the base already established in Port-au-Prince, the agency is establishing field offices in Jacmal, Leogane and Petit Goave. Save the Children has began setting up mobile clinics and distributing supplies in these hard-hit areas.

“Our team’s identified enormous needs in these areas, where little aid has arrived. One week after the earthquake, those people also urgently need our help” added Foster.

The health systems in Haiti are still overwhelmed with the massive numbers of injured; they are lacking supplies and staff. Save the Children has flown in a team of 12 doctors to help meet this growing need.

Save the Children will be receiving six plane loads of supplies with urgently need relief items in the coming week.

Help us raise $1 million for Haiti by donating now:
• Call Save the Children New Zealand’s donation line: 0800 167 168 or 0900 67168 to give an automatic $20 donation
• Visit any one of Save the Children’s shops across the country
• Send a cheque, made out to Save the Children, to Freepost PO Box 6584, Marion Square, Wellington. Mark your envelope Haiti and don’t forget to add your name and address so we can send you a receipt.

ENDS

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