Update on OAS Efforts in Support of Haiti

The OAS is working with its member governments and partner organizations to do everything possible to provide immediate assistance and begin planning for later phases of reconstruction.

Communication and Coordination

• Within hours after the 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, the OAS triggered the inter-American defense mechanism to begin systematic coordination of relief efforts by the OAS, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Pan American Development Foundation (PADF), Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA).  

• The OAS has over 100 employees and contract personnel in Haiti. In the last 12 hours, the OAS was finally able to make contact and ascertain that some staff members have been injured. There have been no reports of OAS fatalities but staff members have lost family members and loved ones. The OAS is working to reach the remainder of our staff.

• OAS called an urgent meeting of its Member States and Permanent Observers that are part of the Friends of Haiti Group to mobilize financial and logistical assistance and receive concrete commitments of support. The Friends of Haiti is a long-standing support group that has provided assistance to Haiti during periods of crisis.

• The OAS, in collaboration with the Inter-American Defense Board, established a Situation Room in its Main Building where delegates and staff can receive up to the minute information on developments in Haiti and efforts of country teams on the ground. Member States are encouraged to send information on their relief efforts to situationroom@oas.org to facilitate information exchange.

Immediate Relief to Disaster Victims

• The PADF personnel in Haiti assembled one of the first teams to conduct a preliminary assessment following the disaster, communicating to the international community the need for water, food and blankets.

• The PADF has established a distribution channel of needs assistance through the Dominican Republic from a warehouse in Santo Domingo. Goods are being transported to Jimaní, on the border with Haiti, from where they are sent by land to Port-au-Prince.

• An initial shipment from the PADF to Haiti included 7,000 canteens of water, 1,000 sleeping bags and shelter packages (including tents, water purification tablets and cooking supplies). Another shipment of between 40 and 50 containers of fortified rice, equivalent to 275,000 food servings is ready to go. PADF is preparing between 12,000 to 18,000 anti-diarrhea medicine boxes to be placed at the disposal of PAHO.

Leveraging Financial Support

• OAS countries have made concrete pledges of financial assistance and humanitarian relief of over US $170 million dollars.

• The OAS Secretariat provided immediate financial assistance to the government and people of Haiti through a donation of $100,000 to the Permanent Mission of Haiti in Washington, DC. Funds are being reallocated within the organization with the intention of providing up to $1 million in additional financial assistance.

•  The OAS has established a Haiti Relief Fund for individuals who would wish to make contributions. Members of the public can access our account online at www.panamericanrelief.org.

• The OAS has opened an account to channel the donations of its employees. The Personnel Association will donate matching funds from its existing Emergency Fund.

INTER-AMERICAN SYSTEM

• The IDB Haiti portfolio holds some 330 million dollars in undisbursed funds, of which 90 million could be quickly redirected to high-priority civil works and reconstruction projects.

• The IDB announced an emergency donation to the government of Haiti of $200,000.

• PAHO has advanced $200,000 dollars from its disaster response fund to initiate immediate critical activities and sent trauma kits for 500 victims.  

OAS SUPPORT AND RESPONSE TO HAITI
(information known as of 01/15/10)