ACT Members in Haiti - Christian Aid (CAID), Fédération
Protestante d'Haiti (FPH), Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and Service
Chrétien d'Haiti (SCH), report that the situation in the
country is starting to stabilise after the departure of President
Jean-Bertrand Aristide on Sunday 29 and a declaration by the rebel
leaders that they will stop fighting and support the international
peace force. ACT members in Haiti hope that with the installation
of the transitional government and the deployment of international
forces, the situation could improve by Wednesday. They report, however,
that the security situation is still uncertain, as heavy gunfire was
heard all over town on Sunday morning. Aristide supporters unhappy
with the situation had gone on the rampage in many parts of the country.
The full extent of the humanitarian situation is also not clear as,
due to security reasons, humanitarian workers have not been able to
mobilise and assess the needs of people. The latest UN report indicates
that shortages of fuel were affecting everyday life and that the prices
of some goods have more than doubled as commodities are scarce. WFP
activities could not take place during the crisis and the agency warned
that widespread shortages were inevitable, especially in the north
where it was not possible to reach the most vulnerable people. According
to UNESCO, 40% of rural schools were not functioning.
ACT response
On 9 January 2004, at the request of the ACT members in Haiti, the
ACT CO sent U$11,500 from the Rapid Response Fund (RRF) to assist
victims of political violence with medical assistance, transport and
safe accommodation. Further immediate assistance was required by the
ACT members in Haiti on February 22 for U$38,500, to provide medical
material and medicines to the victims of the conflict. Christian Aid
(CAID) provided these resources as an advance for the appeal which
is in process of being finalised.
Due to security reasons ACT members staff were not able to assess
the needs for the preparation of the appeal. They report that as the
security situation improves, they will immediately start with the
assessment. CAID has already deployed an emergency staff member from
London to support ACT members in this process. LWF will send an emergency
staff member from LWF El Salvador program to join these efforts. The
initial estimated budget target for the appeal is US$ 300,000 and
will focus on immediate relief activities such as food aid, non food
items, and health and sanitation activities.
