The earthquake that struck Haiti on Tuesday 12 January 2010, measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale has been identified as the worst earthquake there in over 200 years, and one of the worst humanitarian disasters to hit the world in recent times.
The exact number of people killed will probably never be known, and surveys and verification are ongoing, however the Government of Haiti estimates that as many as 230,000 people lost their lives in the earthquake and over 300,000 were wounded. Over 1.3 million people are currently living in temporary settlements, and in total 3 million people have been affected - all of whom require humanitarian assistance
A joint RedR/Bioforce Needs Assessment team flew to Port au Prince on 4 February and a RedR/Bioforce Programme began on 28 February 2010 to provide training and support to aid agencies in Haiti.
RedR’s Programme in Haiti
RedR’s current programme in Haiti is providing training and support to some of the 900 or more national and international agencies who are operating in Port-au-Prince assisting the local populations affected by the earthquake.
Bioforce and RedR have combined their knowledge and skills to create the Disaster Response Support Services (DRSS). The DRSS programme integrates coordination with the Cluster approach to humanitarian response and key quality initiatives such as Humanitarian Accountability Project (HAP), and Sphere.
Programme description
The RedR and Bioforce Needs Assessment identified a great need for skills to be developed to improve the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti. There is a shortage of skilled personnel available to respond due, in part, to the sheer scale of the disaster and the fact that a number of aid workers already in Haiti lost their lives. Training is focused on the following key areas:
• Logistics
• Water, sanitation and hygiene
• Shelter
• Security (personal safety and security of transport and buildings)
• Project and people management
• Training of trainers
On-the-job training for particular agencies covering topics like driver training, fleet management, basic water supply and hygiene promotion and security is being delivered, with the new skills being implemented immediately. Training is focused on developing the skills of local Haitians who are employed by international and national NGOs, to date 94% of people trained have been Haitian aid workers.
Currently the programme is responding to the immediate training needs, with short workshops being delivered to aid agencies and their staff. Courses are taking place in English, French or Creole and is concentrated in Port-au-Prince.
"Todays training made me think about the next steps that we should be taking in water supply. How will the people living in Port-au-Prince move beyond this emergency phase and not rely on emergency solutions (like water trucking) which are currently subsidised by organisations?"
Sanold Lazare from MSF, who attended training in Haiti as part of 'WASH Week'
Key programme facts
Programme name: Disaster Response Support Services
Major donors:
Arup
BDP
Buro Happold
CH2M HILL
Croudace Homes Group Ltd
Cundall
GCG
Holman Fenwick Willan LLP
KCRC
Mott MacDonald
Parsons Brinckerhoff
Robert Bird & Partners
Scott Wilson
Thames Water
The Andrew House Trust
The Happold Trust
The Institution of Mechanical Engineers
The Institution of Structural Engineers
The Sholing Technology College
The Worshipful Company of Engineers
Tony Gee
Waterman
XLN
We would like to also thank all the individuals who have given so generously.
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