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Rapid Needs Assessment
Hurricane Matthew made landfall in southwestern Haiti early on Tuesday 4 October, centred some 250 miles west of the capital Port-au-Prince, causing major floods and forcing thousands to flee. Reports say up to 90% of some areas having been destroyed. Communications are still difficult with some of the hardest-hit towns yet to be reached by land.
CBM and partners
CBM staff and partners in potentially affected areas were sent warning and safety and security info specific to tropical hurricanes - what to do and not to do before, during and after such events. We are now conducting Rapid Needs Assessments, and planning a response that will address urgent needs and ensure long-term recovery.
What is CBM doing to respond?
- Immediate - Water, food, clothing, towels, sheets, mattress
- Short term - Transitional shelters
- Medium term - Installation of roof, reconstruction of houses washed away, revitalisation of small shops and gardens, schools
- Long term - Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and accessibility initiatives that will build resilience for everyone
Disability and emergencies
The WHO estimates 15% of the global population live with disability. In any emergency or disaster, people who live with some form of disability are disproportionally affected. Reasons for this include inaccessibility of warning messages and emergency shelters, loss and damage of assistive devices, disruption of support networks and increased difficulty in accessing basic humanitarian operations (food, water, shelter, sanitation and health care services).
At the same time, emergencies can increase the number of people who experience disability, both short and long-term, due to injuries sustained and lack of effective medical services.
