In early 2003 the United Nations described the situation in Haiti as a silent emergency in view of the chronic socio-economic and governance problems. It spoke of ‘an increasing segment of the population [being] faced with growing poverty and scarcity, bringing them to a critical threshold of vulnerability … The situation in Haiti appears explosive. Stress due to a constant decline in living conditions is added to an aggravated political climate … Serious social unrest is possible Today, after months of political instability and violence, culminating in the departure of President Aristide from office, it now says that the situation has become a ‘full-blown crisis’. Despite the arrival of international troops and the appointment of a new President and Prime Minister, armed groups are in control of much of the country, particularly in the north, and incidents of looting and attacks continue in Port-au-Prince.

The violence has resulted in an unknown numbers of deaths, generating fear and uncertainty. Humanitarian space has been repeatedly violated and most hospitals have ceased to function. Beyond this, the situation has created an acute humanitarian crisis because of the disruption of normal communications and economic activities. The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has estimated that 3 million people (37% of the total population) have been affected by the crisis. The majority of these people live in Port-au-Prince, Gonaïves, Cap Haïtien, Saint Marc, Port-de-Paix (North West department) and Hinche. More than half of them are children under 18 years old, and an estimated 700,000 are women of childbearing age. Priority concerns they have identified are: security, humanitarian access, food and medical aid, fuel, health care and epidemiological risk.

ACT members Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Christian Aid (CAID) have been responding to this crisis through their partners in Haiti. However, the current appeal includes only the LWF proposal as the CAID proposal is not finalised yet. LWF is proposing to respond to the current crisis through:

• First aid and legal assistance
• Food security
• Health assistance
• Agricultural recovery and income generating activities
• Psychosocial assistance and Conflict resolution

The appeal includes a mid-term review of the activities by external consultants, part of a capacity assessment as basis for a capacity building program for ACT members and partners in Haiti.

Project Completion Date:

LWF - 31 March 2005

Signed by:
Thor-Arne Prois, ACT Director

For full details of proposals and budgets, please click below to download a PDF file of the entire Appeal.

Haiti - Relief to Victims of Civil Unrest - LAHT41 (file size: 70 Kb)

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