who in haiti crisis · haiti crisis jean luc poncelet disaster program amro. situation before the...
TRANSCRIPT
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)- [email protected] - 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