Six months after a devastating earthquake leveled much of Haiti on Jan. 12, the American Red Cross reported it is on track to spend more than $200 million this year to address immediate needs and will launch new initiatives to address longer-term recovery efforts over the next three to five years. It will continue to support hundreds of thousands of additional survivors in the next several years until the last donated dollar is spent.
The global Red Cross network is providing:
- Semi-permanent shelters to house 165,000 people
- Cash grants and microloans to help nearly 210,000 people
- Water for 280,000 people each day
- Disaster preparedness activities to protect 500,000 people
- Medical care and/or health education for 435,000 people
- Emergency shelter materials for 625,000 people
- Latrines for 238,000 people
- Emergency supplies for 125,000 people for use during hurricane season
- Food for 1.3 million people for one month
Shelter—Semi-permanent shelters for 165,000 Haitians. As shelter is a top priority, the American Red Cross has either spent or has signed contracts to spend $28.6 million1 to provide semi-permanent shelters for an initial 40,000 Haitians.
Health Services—Over $9 million to keep a Haitian hospital open and provide prosthetics to the injured. The American Red Cross is reaching hundreds of thousands of Haitians with medical services and community-based health and hygiene education. In a new agreement with Partners in Health, we are spending $3.8 million to pay the salaries of more than 1,800 Haitian doctors, nurses and other staff, many of whom have not been paid since even before the arthquake, at the largest general hospital in Portau- Prince.
Disaster Preparedness—More than $7 million to reduce risks and prepare for disasters. With hurricane season upon us, the American Red Cross is spending millions to prepare the most
vulnerable people—most of them living under tarps or tents—for severe weather.
Livelihoods and Host Family Assistance—Innovative programs to give over $60 million in financial assistance. Because the needs of families differ, the American Red Cross is committed to providing Haitians with the financial assistance necessary to choose what local goods and services they need most.
Money Raised and Spent
The American Red Cross has raised approximately $468 million for the Haiti relief and recovery efforts, spending nearly a third of the money – $148.5million – in the first six months. About 38% of the money has been spent on food and emergency services; about 35% on emergency and transitional/semi-permanent shelters; 10% on livelihoods and host family assistance; 8% on health and disease prevention programs; 5% on disaster preparedness activities as well as 4% on providing clean water and sanitation. The shelter and financial assistance agreements to be signed in the next several weeks will add another $71 million in spending.
Click here to learn more about the global Red Cross relief efforts.
To see more photos of Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti, please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanredcross/show/
