Haiti Earthquake - Update th
On January 12 , a magnitude 7.0 quake struck about 15 kilometres southwest ofthe Haitian capital, Port-auPrince. The earthquake caused massive devastation and loss of life. MSF responded within hours; our teams on the ground set up makeshift hospitals anywhere they could and started treating the wounded. The International
Medical Health Organization was part of
this emergency response. With your generous gift of $5,000, you helped MSF act quickly and efficiently to the crisis as it unfolded. We want to report back to you on the impact you have had. This report offers a snapshot of MSF's humanitarian
action in Haiti after
the quake and highlights the ongoing medical challenges ahead.
The First Five Days - A Timeline MSF has been actively working in Haiti for 19 years. Prior to the devastating earthquake that killed more than 200,000 people, MSF ran four medical facilities in Port-au-Prince. Before the quake •
Trinite Trauma Centre - the only emergency surgery facility in Port-au-Prince
•
Pacot Rehabilitation
•
Martissant
centre - specialized post-operative
Emergency Room - stabilization
•
Maternite
•
800 Haitian and 30 International
care
of patients and referral
Solidarite - obstetric hospital for emergency cases staff in Haiti
Day 1: Jan. 12
•
• • •
7.0 quake strikes 15 km southwest of Port-au-Prince Massive destruction of buildings and huge loss of life. Most of the estimated 200,000 deaths probably occurred very rapidly All of MSF's facilities are damaged, some severely. Many staff are missing Within minutes, injured people start arriving at MSF's sites. Emergency first aid given all evening and night
Day 2: Jan. 13 •
Martissant evacuated, patients in tents. 300 new cases treated for trauma, fractures and burns
•
Pacot Rehabilitation
centre also deals with 300, La Trinite Trauma Centre with over 400
•
Petionville administration
•
One MSF coordinator, Stefano Zannini, describes what he sees in the city as "Chaotic. Many hospitals are damaged and I saw a distressing number of dead bodies."
offices become tent clinic with 200 treated. Others at Solidarite Hospital
Day 3: Jan. 14 •
Need for wound care and surgery is overwhelming
•
Search for buildings that could be used as operating theatres. Surgery starts under plastic sheeting
•
Struggle to get medical materials and staff into Haiti. Only one MSF flight with 25 tons able to land so far
Day 4: Jan. 15 • •
Choscal Hospital, where MSF used to work in Cite Soleil, starts as new MSF treatment transferred from Martissant
centre with 300
1,500 patients seen so far in all MSF locations
•
Race against time with infected wounds needing care and surgery
•
Blockages at airport hamper MSF flights. Only 9 new staff have been able to get in
Day 5: Jan. 16 •
Choscal Hospital starts surgery
•
2,000 patients treated so far in all locations
•
Two cargo planes arrive in Port-au-Prince with 85 tons of supplies and half an inflatable hospital
•
41 new staff have arrived at this point
TWO MONTHS POST EARTHQUAKE - MSF INTERVENTIONS IN HAITI Two months after the January 12 earthquake, medical needs remain immense in Haiti and living conditions are extremely precarious. Although the phase of urgent life-saving medical care has passed there continues a critical emergency context, in which thousands of people need post-operative care, rehabilitative care and physiotherapy, as well as psychological counseling. The extremely difficult living conditions put stress on people who live in camps or who live in tents throughout the city and its surrounding areas. The rainy season has begun, adding to the horrific living conditions of many who still don't have proper access to sanitation facilities, and augmenting their chances of contracting malaria. There is also insecurity in camps due to poor lighting facilities or poor security management,
indicated partly by an increase in sexual violence cases.
Because it is crucial that patients be cared for until the end of their medical treatment,
MSF has expanded its
capacity to include specialized postoperative care-including plastic and micro-surgery, treatment for burn victims, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and psychological counseling. MSF is also focusing on primary health
care, with out-patient departments in various locations in the city, and with secondary-level health care services, including for emergency obstetrics, intensive therapeutic care for malnourished children, and inpatient care for paediatrics and adults. MSF also continues with its activities in water distribution, building of sanitation facilities such as latrines, and the distribution of tents, hygiene and cooking kits, and closely monitors the situation in the camps to inform or advocate to authorities about the unmet needs of the population. Currently MSF has 348 international
staff in Haiti working
closely with over 3,000 Haitian staff. With the expansion of services, the 19 MSF hospitals and health centres can accommodate 1,237 patients. In almost three months, MSF teams have performed over 4,000 surgeries and treated more than 92,000 patients, including mental health. MSF teams have distributed close to 34,000 non-food item kits (this includes: kitchen kits + hygiene kits + Jerry cans + blankets + plastic sheeting), and nearly 22,000 tents.
th
FIGURESTO DATE (AS OF April 8 International
)
staff
348
Haitian staff
3,060
Operation
16
theatres
Number of beds
1,237
Patients treated (including
mental health)
92,486
Surgical interventions
4,012
NFl (Non-Food Items) Kits distributed
per household
*
33,281
Tents distributed
21,937
Number of sites
19 sites + 3 mobile clinics
Water distributed
/ day in cubic metres
870
Latrines built
450
Showers built
101
*NFI per household
= kitchen
Kit + Hygiene Kit + Jerry can + blankets + plastic sheeting
MSF has worked in Haiti for 19 years. More information www.msf.orgjmsfinternational/countriesjamericasjhaiti/i
on Haiti can be found on the MSF Haiti website at: nd eX.cfm. th
As well, a webinar update on the situation in Haiti was originally broadcast on March 11 www.ustream.tvjrecordedj5361656.
and can be viewed at: