The assistance comes amid hundreds of people killed since July in gang clashes in Haiti’s Cité Soleil, the UN humanitarian agency said.OCHA) spokesperson, Jens Laerke.
Many others were caught in the fray, as gang control on the highways continued to grow. This has cut off their access to drinking water, food and healthcare. “Overall, we estimate close to 280,000 people are affected by this condition,” added Mr. Laerke.
The community is deprived
With a current estimated population of around 300,000, Cité Soleil is one of the most needy communes in Port-au-Prince and its development needs were great even before the violence.
The United Nations said that between July 8 and 17, more than 471 people were killed, injured or missing.
Serious incidents of sexual violence against women and girls, as well as gangs recruiting boys, have also been reported.
Some 3,000 people have been displaced, including hundreds of unaccompanied children, while at least 140 homes have been destroyed or burned down.
Last month, Humanitarian Coordinator Ulrika Richardson call all parties to end deadly violence and ensure the opening of a humanitarian corridor for Cité Soleil, describing the needs as “enormous” and “growing” due to poverty, lack of basic services and violence has increased recently.
Support more than 100,000 people
According to an OCHA spokesperson, high levels of insecurity are affecting the humanitarian access of those affected, as well as basic services such as health and education for between one million and 1.5 million people. Millions of people are trapped in gang-controlled neighborhoods.
Mr Laerke pointed out that although “a small amount”, it is “an important amount right now”.
The CERF The allocation will help humanitarian agencies strengthen their response and funding through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Food Program (WFP) will provide food, water, healthcare support, mental health and education support to a total of more than 100,000 people.
To support an estimated 4.9 million Haitians, or about 43% of the total population this year, Haiti’s humanitarian response plan has asked for $373 million, but Mr. Laerke warned, it only funded “14%”.
Life-saving support
CERF enabling humanitarian responders to deliver critical aid wherever a crisis occurs.
Since March 2006, it has enabled humanitarian partners to provide more than $5.5 billion in life-saving assistance in more than 100 countries and territories.
Mr. Laerke explained that after the CERF injection, “other donors will follow because it comes with the message that these are the vital lifesaving interventions we need today.”
UNICEF warning
Meanwhile, a year after a devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Haiti, and three weeks before the start of the new school year, UNICEF warns that more than 250,000 children are out of school.
The United Nations agency said in a statement.
At the end of last year, UNICEF requested the adoption of the Humanitarian Call for 2022, an amount of $97 million to reach 950,000 people, including 520,000 children in Haiti.
The agency warned that so far only 30% of that funding has been received – threatening to deliver aid to the most vulnerable people in the country.
