On 12th January 2010, a violent earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale struck Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti. According to estimates, up to 230,000 people were killed and about 300,000 were injured. Over
1.5 million people are still living in more than 1,300 encampments, and around 600,000 others have been displaced to the provinces. 6 months on, our team in Haiti is continuing its work in support of disabled and vulnerable people.
© William Daniels for Handicap International
Guardian video - Haiti six months on: Claudine Souffrante
Claudine Souffrante was gravely injured when her school collapsed during the earthquake. The consequences have enveloped her entire family. She is receiving support from Handicap International's rehabilitation team.
| Personal account - Moïse starts to feel better
Moïse, aged 4, had to have his foot amputated after he was hit by a piece of rubble falling from his house. Since being fitted with an artificial limb, his life is slowly returning to 'normal'. | 
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Handicap International's activities in Haiti
Present in Haiti since 2008, we were able to start working less than 24 hours after the earthquake. In the 6 months since January, our work has already benefited tens of thousands of people. Currently our team of 500 staff is:
- Providing care to the wounded by distributing orthopaedic equipment and training relatives to look after injured family members.
- Providing care to amputees. There are between 2,000 and 4,000 new amputees in Haiti. We are providing rehabilitation, distributing walking aids, and setting up a long-term follow-up system for patients. We are also fitting amputees with artificial limbs to help them regain independence. Our goal is to create a long-term capacity to provide rehabilitation services in the country by training Haitian staff and building rehabilitation centres.
- Delivering humanitarian aid using our 45 trucks to deliver water, medicine, food and shelters.
- Distributing emergency kits (sheets, rope, blankets, water filters, buckets, etc) and building shelters for vulnerable and disabled people.
- Providing psychological support to survivors.
- Running a “Cash for work” project to clear rubble and construct shelters, helping local people earn an income in the process.
| You can donate direct to our Haiti
emergency appeal at www.justgiving.com/Haiti-emergency-appeal or call us on 0870 774 3737. Your gift, whatever the amount, represents concrete help, hope and support to the victims. Every penny will make a difference to the people of Haiti. Thank you. |
© William Daniels for Handicap International |
