Joseph Chlela, who’s from Lebanon, is an emergency coordinator with IOM and has been working within the earthquake zone.
“I arrived from Bangladesh simply two weeks earlier than the earthquake hit Haiti. I’m grateful for my expertise working in disaster conditions, which helped me arrange the emergency response instantly after the earthquake struck.
Crucial first step is to include the emergency. I put collectively a response staff working intently with authorities our bodies and native companions. These colleagues had been then rapidly deployed to the areas most affected to conduct a fast evaluation of the injury and wishes and to start out distributing non-food kits and shelter objects equivalent to tarps, tents, photo voltaic lanterns in addition to hygiene kits and kitchen units.
A fast response is extraordinarily essential to restrict the injury and casualties and to offer pressing help to these and not using a roof to sleep beneath.
IOM/Monica Chiriac
Joseph Chlela is an emergency response coordinator with IOM.
Unstable Safety
The primary challenges have been logistical and linked to the unstable safety state of affairs in Haiti, which has made it tougher to achieve these individuals in want. The COVID-19 pandemic has additional difficult the humanitarian response.
Many communities stay in hard-to-reach areas the place entry is usually restricted and now practically unattainable as a result of bridges and roads which had been broken by the earthquake.
If individuals hadn’t acquired any assist and objects equivalent to hygiene kits, the incidence of contagious and water-borne illnesses would have drastically elevated.
Lack of shelter can also be intently linked to an elevated threat of gender-based violence.
Different governmental and native authority companions in addition to UN companies, together with UNICEF and WFP, have additionally contributed to the response.
I’ve been impressed to see all of the companions, native and worldwide, coming collectively to assist these affected regardless of the myriad of logistical challenges. And it’s heartwarming to witness the resilience of Haitians and their dedication to remain put of their houses and construct again higher.
IOM has assisted over 150,000 individuals with shelter and non-food objects and I feel the individuals we have now helped, particularly these dwelling in very distant areas, had been grateful for and possibly even shocked by IOM’s immediate response.
What’s essential is that as a primary responder, IOM has given individuals hope that they weren’t forgotten once they wanted it essentially the most”.
