OCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Published purpose

January 21, 2010 - On January 12, 2010, a massive earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale rocked Port-au-Prince, the capital of the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti. It is estimated that up to 3,000,000 people have been affected by the disaster, either through injury or through loss of access to life-sustaining necessities such as food, water, sanitation services, and shelter. With Canada's support, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is providing coordination for the international and local humanitarian activities, so as to ensure an efficient and effective response to humanitarian needs. OCHA is also managing, monitoring, and revising the Flash Appeal in response to developments on the ground; supporting inter-agency collaboration and the use of the cluster approach; and facilitating resource mobilisation in support of relief efforts.