UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Published purpose

Within the span of just over one week at the end of August and beginning of September, Hurricanes Fay and Gustav and tropical storm Hanna swept through Haiti, causing widespread destruction throughout the country. While needs assessments are far from complete it is estimated that up to 800,000 people are in need for humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance. The number of Haitians directly and indirectly affected by the extreme weather conditions is much higher. A large majority of the population was already facing extreme hardship with 53% living on less than one US dollar per day, while prices for staple foods have increased over 40% since the beginning of the year. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) provides access to safe water and sanitation facilities to families affected by the storms, and promotes good hygiene habits among the population affected in order to reduce the risk of water related diseases.