Claims by Southern Command that ‘The Medical Situation Has Improved’ are Unfounded

Mr. Ruiz’s statement flies in the face of evidence discovered over the past two weeks by TransAfrica Forum staff and numerous civil society partners in Haiti. Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are going without food, shelter and medical care every day.

TransAfrica’s President, Nicole Lee, is in Haiti this week and has seen first hand that assistance programs are failing to meet the enormous need. She says, "There is overwhelming need in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. The need for clean water, food, and shelter is exacerbating the need for healthcare. Aid is still trickling and has not nearly met the need."

Imani Countess, Senior Director for Public Affairs, just returned from Haiti. “Humanitarian distributions must be decentralized; people outside of Port-au-Prince and thousands within the city are not getting the medical attention or the food they need. Major organizations and the U.S. government need to coordinate with local leaders to address the country’s critical needs.”

TransAfrica has been briefing Members of Congress on the inadequacies associated with the humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

The Obama Administration is beginning the slow withdrawal of U.S. troops from Haiti, which numbered 22,000 at their highest. The security situation in Haiti is stable and large numbers of troops are not required. However, troops with specialized skills, including the Army Corps of Engineers, have been instrumental in repairing transport infrastructure, rubble removal, and building inspection. “It is too early to transfer military assets away from essential tasks, for example, port repairs,” reports Nicole Lee. “Many small and medium-sized NGOs have been unable to off-load shipping containers while only a small percentage of the people in Port-au-Prince are eating more than one small meal a day.”

As the world turns its attention to the country’s longer-term reconstruction, Haiti’s people still face immediate food, shelter and sanitation shortages, as well as a severe health care crisis.

Ms. Lee says from Haiti, “When President Obama says that the situation in Haiti is dire, he is right. People are hungry and sleeping in the open. Only of small percentage of Haitians in need of medical care and food are receiving it on a regular basis or at levels high enough to make a real difference. We need to sustain our humanitarian efforts until emergency needs have been met.”

TransAfrica urges the Obama Administration and the U.S. Congress to:

Maintain EMERGENCY RELIEF efforts at their highest levels - Currently, the United Nations and large international aid agencies have prioritized distribution to only19 major camps in Port-au-Prince, leaving the majority of those affected by the earthquake without access to food, water, and shelter.

DECENTRALIZE THE TRIAGE - In addition to the capital city, the earthquake has devastated several major cities in the country. An estimated 600,000 people have left the Port-au-Prince area for the rural areas. The migration has sparked an immediate need for food, shelter, and sanitation in earthquake affected areas outside of Port-au-Prince and in those rural areas now hosting displaced people.

ADHERENCE TO INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS - There is anecdotal evidence that humanitarian agencies have not uniformly applied international humanitarian standards of ethics and practice in creating camps and in disposing of rubble and waste.

From Port-Au-Prince, Nicole Lee writes, “There is still overwhelming need in Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. No one should be deceived. People desperately need medical care, shelter and food. We need to remain vigilant and provide effective assistance. The need for clean food and real shelter is even exacerbating the need for healthcare. Aid is still trickling and has not nearly met the need.”

For more information visit, www.transafricaforum.org or contact Joia Nuri, jnuri@transafricaforum.org.