CARE's Relief Efforts in Haiti
by CARE | January 19, 2010 at 9:25 AM
Haiti - Evelyn Hockstein/CAREThe scale of devastation caused by the recent earthquake in Haiti is horrifying. Aid workers on the ground say the extent of the damage to homes and infrastructure is reminiscent of the damage caused by the 2004 tsunami. Current estimates are that one in three Haitians - or three million people are affected.
CARE is on the ground in Haiti now, distributing water sanitation tablets, food, hygiene kits and emergency healthcare. **Find more information and donate at: www.care.org.**
In emergencies like this, women and children are the worst affected. There are 37,000 pregnant women in the disaster zone who are in urgent need of food, safe water and access to health care. Also, during emergencies, women and girls are at increased risk of sexual violence, exploitation and abuse when seeking food and other services. CARE and its partners will address gender-specific needs in Haiti.
CARE has been working in Haiti since 1954. Many of CARE's 130+ staff in Haiti include emergency personnel who were part of the response to the devastating Hurricane Hanna in 2008. In Haiti, CARE's programs focus on governance, HIV/AIDS, reproductive health, maternal and child health, education, food security, and water and sanitation.
