“My house is really badly damaged. I don’t have clean water, nor water to wash myself. My latrine is totally destroyed. I’m very scared, I think the event can happen again at any time,” said Celia Astrel a 101-year-old woman who lives in Pestel, one of the areas affected by the Haiti earthquake.
As more time passes since the devastating earthquake hit Haiti on August 14, 2021, the need for support and intervention is becoming increasingly acute.
HelpAge International believes that more than 29,000 older people have been impacted by the earthquake, as well as 12,000 people with disabilities. They have lost their homes and shelter, and are in desperate need of clean water, food, and health care. This creates particular challenges as many older men and women are already living with complex health conditions and disabilities that limit their active involvement in the recovery process.
Patrick Nelson, the Acting Country Director in Haiti for Church World Service and a HelpAge partner in Haiti, explained the situation:
“The situation of older people in Haiti is getting worse every day. Most of them don’t have food, water, clothing, a bed, or a place to stay with dignity. Their health needs are either being neglected, or they don’t have money to cover the costs. They also don’t have access to latrines to help with their physiological needs. They have a lot of problems, especially those with disabilities, and are not receiving the support and attention they need.”
People urgently need secure shelters, food, and clean water, as well as support to get their children back to school. This is made even more challenging because the main impact of the earthquake was in traditionally under-served and predominantly rural areas, with limited essential public services.
As Saintyle Clairose, an eighty-one-year-old woman from Charles Dieu, in Pestel’s second section, said:
“My house is destroyed, I have no drinking water, there is no water for laundry or washing. We remain vigilant, keeping an eye open as I think it can happen again at any time. I lost my business and all my income. I have no shelter, how can I talk about safety? I need water, shelter, and food.”
HelpAge International is partnering with Church World Service in Pestel, Grand’Anse department in Haiti as technical advisors to a program to facilitate an age- and disability-inclusive response to the growing humanitarian crisis. This includes supporting an inclusive rapid needs assessment and an immediate relief project focused on health, psychosocial support, shelter, non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene, education, and emergency repair of community structures.
“One of the biggest problems older people face now is that many of them don’t have someone to take care of them or to talk to,” said Patrick Nelson of Church World Service.
Before the earthquake, Haiti was already in an incredibly fragile situation. Following the assassination of the President in July 2021, gang violence escalated sharply displacing thousands. More than four million people require food aid due to acute food insecurity.
The health system is already overburdened by the COVID-19 crisis – in a country where less than one percent of the population has been vaccinated. All of which combines for a complex humanitarian situation that is in urgent need of support.
“We recognize the efforts by the Haitian National Authorities, working in partnership with national and international organizations, to respond to the most urgent needs of the people affected by the earthquake and welcome the activation of the UN Disaster and Coordination global response mechanism.
“Given the specific trauma and challenges faced by older people, we urge the Haitian authorities and donor community to ensure that the needs of older women and men affected by this crisis are not overlooked. There must be a full assessment of their needs and an adequate response delivered as a matter of urgency. And in the long term, more work must be done to build resilience in such fragile communities,” said Cherian Matthews, director of Global Impact at HelpAge International.
The August earthquake destroyed more than 130,000 homes and severely damaged the public infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, roads, bridges, and water networks, which have left people living without shelter and in desperate need of clean water, food, and health care.
This article was originally published by HelpAge International.
13 thoughts on “Older People in Haiti in Desperate Need of Help”
Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is amazing, great written and
include almost all significant infos. I’d like to peer extra posts like
this .
Wonderful web site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it
to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And certainly, thanks
for your sweat!
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you really know what
you are talking about! Bookmarked. Please additionally talk over with my web site =).
We can have a hyperlink trade arrangement among us
Appreciating the persistence you put into your website and in depth information you offer.
It’s good to come across a blog every once in a while that isn’t the same outdated rehashed information. Great read!
I’ve saved your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.
I’m gone to convey my little brother, that he should also pay a visit this webpage on regular basis to obtain updated from most up-to-date reports.
Hi there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your article seem to be running off the screen in Opera.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I’d post to let you know.
The layout look great though! Hope you get the problem resolved soon. Many thanks
Amazing! Its truly remarkable paragraph, I have got much clear
idea regarding from this piece of writing.
Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?
My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing several weeks of hard work due to no back up.
Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
Fantastic items from you, man. I’ve have in mind your stuff
previous to and you are simply too magnificent. I really like
what you have received here, really like what you are saying and
the way during which you are saying it. You’re making it entertaining
and you continue to take care of to keep it sensible.
I cant wait to read much more from you. That is really a
terrific website.
When I initially commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now
each time a comment is added I get three emails with the same comment.
Is there any way you can remove people from that
service? Bless you!
I’ve read several excellent stuff here. Definitely price bookmarking for revisiting.
I surprise how much attempt you set to make such a wonderful informative website.
fantastic points altogether, you simply received a new reader.
What would you recommend about your post that you made some days ago?
Any positive?
My relatives every time say that I am wasting my time here at net, but
I know I am getting familiarity every day by
reading such good articles or reviews.
Comments are closed.