Tropical Story Thomas Likely To Hit Haiti

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND

Tropical Story Thomas Likely To Hit Haiti – While Cholera Outbreak Spreads – Death Toll Now 442

Nov 5 2010: UNICEF is concerned that Tropical Storm Tomas will jeopardise and put back the cholera recovery operations.

As a result of the storm’s potential landfall, the island is being returned to emergency status.

This further forestalls the critical operation of getting the people out of the camps, rebuilding, and working for a sustainable future on many fronts.

“The concern is that the combination of cholera, a tropical storm and the aftermath of the January earthquake threatens to create the ideal conditions for an emergency of nation-wide proportions. Priority will be on looking after children and mothers,” says UNICEF New Zealand executive director Dennis McKinlay.

“As is always the case in emergencies, the worst affected are the most vulnerable - children and their mothers.

“Let's hope that Haiti can weather both of these setbacks and continue to move forward to restore ordinary life in Haiti.”

UNICEF, and its partners, including WHO, the UN, the Ministry of Health and NGOS are rushing to ensure adequate emergency supplies are in place before Tropical storm Tomas hits.

"UNICEF staff have been working with our partners around the clock to help address and contain the cholera outbreak," said Ms Francoise Gruloos-Ackermans, UNICEF Representative in Haiti.

"Now, the potential landfall of this tropical storm endangers the work completed to date and poses a new threat of the water-borne cholera disease being spread by inland flooding.

"This latest threat comes as the country is struggling to recover from the devastating earthquake that struck last January."

Meanwhile it is proving harder to contain cholera than was thought. Cholera has spread to more rural areas.

According to latest information released by the Haitian Ministry of Health, there have been 442 deaths and 6,742 hospitalizations attributed to cholera in numerous locations throughout the country, suggesting that the disease continues to spread rapidly.

Cholera patients and their families under treatment are receiving preventative information.

UNICEF is focusing supply distribution efforts in areas southwest of Port-au-Prince with the distribution of medical, nutrition, and sanitation stocks. Tropical storm contingency supplies are being prepositioned in communities throughout Haiti, including areas not directly affected by cholera. These supplies include water purification kits, tarpaulins, oral rehydration salts, jerrycans, water purification tablets and zinc tablets, which reduce the effects of diarrhoea.

UNICEF is also prepositioning further emergency supplies, particularly where the risk of cholera’s spread will be heightened do to the expected heavy rain.

ENDS

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