DEC members respond to Haiti cholera outbreak

Press release 19 November 2010

Deaths due to cholera have now risen to more than 1,100 while some 18,000 reported cases of infection have been found in all 10 of Haiti’s administrative regions. Member Agencies of the Disasters Emergency Committee have responded by:

  • Providing treatment centres for those infected
  • disseminating information on disease prevention
  • training health workers and volunteers
  • water purification tablets
  • hygiene kits and cleaning products
  • cleaning and ‘desludging’ camp toilets

Violence which began in the North of the country at the beginning of the week has slowed cholera prevention measures and prevented treatment supplies from reaching the area.  The violence has now spread to the capital Port au Prince. Oxfam has suspended a project to chlorinate water for 300,000 people living in and around Cap Haitian as well as the distributions of soap, water tablets and oral rehydration salts until the violence subsides.

The DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal which raised £103m is now closed but the money can be used by member agencies to respond to the cholera outbreak where it threatens quake survivors.  Many of our members continue to run appeals for Haiti.