UNICEF helpless to assist Haiti in the rising food insecurity, diseases amid poverty

UNICEF warned that more than half a million children in Haiti lack shelter, access to clean water and hygiene facilities. It added that over 540,000 children in the southwest of Haiti are under the threat of waterborne diseases as earthquakes devastated most of the resources.

Bruno Maes, UNICEF Representative in Haiti, stated on Thursday that thousands of families with children are at risk of catching diseases as the conditions they are living in are vulnerable. He said the threats of diarrhoeal disease, malaria, cholera and respiratory infections in Haiti are growing.

Maes said no cases of cholera were reported in Haiti since 2019; however, the re-emergence of the disease is highly likely due to the present conditions. He said the efforts of UNICEF are not able to meet the dire needs of the people in Haiti. Due to tensions on the ground, the humanitarian responses were halted .

As per reports, over 60% of people do not have access to clean water in Haiti. The numbers grew rapidly after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake. UNICEF is providing clean water to 73,600 people through six water treatment plants, water trucks and twenty-two bladders. Besides this, more than 35,200 people also received hygiene kits.The 14 August earthquake has further worsened an already challenging humanitarian situation formed by persistent political instability, socioeconomic crisis and rising food insecurity.