CRS HAITI UPDATE

Catholic Relief Services Situation Report #24 for external distribution

Haiti Earthquake Dates covered: February 18-21, 2010

AFFECTED POPULATIONS/NEEDS: New developments

Toussaint Louverture International Airport in Port au Prince reopened for commercial flights. American Airlines and Air France resumed services on Feb.19^th. Air Canada and the regional carrier Air Caraïbes are expected to recommence flights shortly. American Airlines has announced two daily flights from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, while a flight from JFK is expected to operate four times a week. Travelers should anticipate significant congestion and associated delays at Port-au-Prince due to a surge in demand for seats on international flights.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UN Special Envoy Bill Clinton, and Emergency Relief Coordinator John Holmes announced the Haiti Revised Humanitarian Appeal for Haiti on Feb. 18. The Appeal is for US$1.4 billion (which includes the original $562 million) to cover emergency humanitarian assistance and key early recovery projects for 12 months (January-December 2010). With a target of 3 million people who have been directly affected, as well as communities hosting the large numbers of displaced, the total equals an average of $481 per affected person. With the $673 million received in response to the original Flash Appeal, the outstanding requirement is $768 million.

According to the Associated Press, the Haitian Government announced it will appropriate private land temporary camp sites. It has not specified the amount it would seek but a spokesperson said government panels will make decisions in three to four weeks, and that the transitional shelters will be built in five or six months.

The Chronicle of Philanthropy tallied major US charity fundraising efforts for Haiti at a total of $774 million in private contributions. The top agencies on the list include (as of Feb. 17):

1	American Red Cross $276 million	6	Clinton Bush Haiti Fund $40 million	11	William Clinton Foundation $11.9 million
2	CRS $60.4 million	7	World Vision U.S. $27.6 million	12	Mercy Corps $11.6 million
3	Partners In Health $56 million	8	Oxfam America $21.5 million	13	Salvation Army $10.8 million
4	Doctors Without Borders U.S. $50.2 million	9	Save the Children USA $18.2 million	14	International Rescue Committee $4.9 million
5	UNICEF (U.S. Fund) $49.1 million	10	CARE USA $12 million	15	Lutheran World Relief $3.2 million

The following map situates the 183 identified IDP camps in Port-au-Prince and the 16 WFP food distributions sites (blue dots). [The higher resolution map is available online where details in fine print can be read].

PARTNERSHIPS AND COORDINATION

No specific updates other than partnerships referred to below.

PROGRAMMING

Distributions

To date, CRS has provided food to 597,989 people in camps and settlements in Port-au-Prince, Léogane, and outside areas. Of this population, CRS has distributed 30,903 ready-to-eat food kits (which last a family of five for two days) to as many families, as well as food day rations (626,829 lbs. of soy-fortified bulgur, oil, corn-soy blend, and lentils/peas) in kits for an estimated 33,152 families that last typically 15 days. Another 49,699 families (or 248,496 people) received rice in the WFP rice distribution.

Only 6,500 families (32,500 people) received a repeat distribution – WFP rice in addition to one distribution of CRS/Caritas Haiti food. This population in Pétionville Club, has not received other food distributions, but received emergency shelter kits last week.

Shelter

On Friday, Feb. 19th, CRS/Caritas Haiti distributed 1,300 emergency shelter kits in Champs de Mars, and another 1,300 kits were distributed in the Eglise Don Bosco area over the weekend. The CRS/Caritas Haiti team has a goal of distributing 2,000 emergency shelter kits this week in the city settlements of Nazon and Solino.

WASH

CRS/Caritas Haiti is supporting a Cash-for-Work program for 160 people to clean the overwhelming amounts of rubble and debris out of the city’s main canal. This will take place in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works or a USAID contractor, and is seen as a priority to mitigate potential flooding when the rainy season starts. CRS/Caritas Haiti is considering at what level to expand the clean up across the city given the obvious major needs.

The Haitian graffiti artist hired by CRS/Caritas Haiti has completed two murals and will be painting several more throughout the city. The murals depict messages reinforcing hand washing and good hygiene practices.