Acehtsunami

An urgent situation appeal launched by the international aid society within days of the Haiti earthquake has reached more than 95% of its $577m target. But as the drizzling season approaches, and then the hurricane season, the situation for hundreds of thousands of people is still unsafe and their wants vital.

Haiti wanted a lot of assistance before the earthquake. The earthquake has compounded persons needs Nicholas Reader, UN OCHA The humanitarian answer to the disaster was a logistical nightmare. main infrastructure, government and worldwide aid teams already in Haiti had been devastated. Port-au-Prince’s small airport was soon besieged by aid flights as rescue teams were flown in.

Up to 230,000 persons died in the quake and around a million were left on the streets. There was some criticism of the co-ordination of the aid effort in the instant aftermath, with some aid flights belated and food failing to reach lots of survivors.

A month after the hurricane, aid distribution points have been established, camps set up for the homeless and the port re-opened. The focus is still on saving lives but of an extra long term nature. Here we inspect the ongoing aid effort.