UN Reinforces Humanitarian Response to Haiti amidst Escalating Violence

Havana, March 19 (ACN) The United Nations has reinforced its humanitarian response in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince amidst a tense violent situation, official sources reported.

The UN Children Fund (UNICEF) has handed in over 242 thousand gallons of drinking water since early March, said Farhan Haq, associate spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

Meanwhile, the World Food Program and its partners have brought some 146 thousand food rations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has offered drugs and medical equipment for the “Universite de Paix” Hospital, according to a report by PL news agency.

According to the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office, attacks on schools, hospitals and government buildings in the Haitian capital hinder humanitarian operations, while the shortage of medical supplies, personnel and blood reserves worsens the situation in the health sector.

On Tuesday, the public electricity company reported the destruction of several substations in the metropolitan area, which left many communities without power.

The UN estimates that half the country’s population—nearly 5,5 million Haitians—need humanitarian assistance, but the organization’s response plan hardly collected 43 million dollars out of more than the requested 674 million.

The figure stands for just 6.5 percent of the UN plans to offer food, shelter, healthcare, education and protection for some 3.6 million inhabitants this year.