WHO in Haiti Crisis

Jean Luc Poncelet

Disaster Program

AMRO

Situation before the crisis• Progressive deterioration of health indicators link to:

– Destitution of Duvalier regime– Embargo in early 1990– Political and economical crisis– Decreasing of international assistance– ..

• A fragmented health sector– Weakened ministry– More that 160 health related NGO (national/ internat.)

• Presence of the UN system– WFP, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO/PAHO

WHO/PAHO support before the crisis

• “classical” technical cooperation– health services– Water and sanitation– Health promotion– …

• Service provider– PROMESS– Vaccination program

WHO/PAHO

• Regional office of WHO (part of UN)

• Health agency of the Inter American System (OAS, IDB, IICA,…)

Main actions in crisis

Activation of Emergency Operation Centers, in WR-Haiti and PAHO/WHO Headquarters

•Activation of :- Emergency line (ext.3399)- Haiti@paho.org - Task force- Website

Personal

• Protected evacuation of families and non ‘essential staff’ to Dominican republic

• UNSECOORD – reduce the essential staff to fifty and then

want to further reduce– .assign number of person per agency

• Evacuation of office– regrouping in hotel

Experts in logistics, disasters, and epidemiological surveillance areas sent before

the crisis

Mechanism for coordination

• Information sharing– Existing data– Quick assessment of needs

• Crisis committees– NGO’s– UN– Thematic

• Special projects• Access to authority

Main Logistic issues

• Fuel• Communication: Alternate phone system• Cash• Closing of Air/ sea port and boarder• Movement restriction also in Capital• No security in hospitals

Summary

• Interruption of cooperation and health/water services delivery due:– security– Vandalism

• Little could be done from outside– Rely only on existing resources (technical,

financial, supply,..)

Conclusion

WHO response efficiency depend first of WR office

preparedness