In response to the continuing civil unrest and healthcare disruption in Haiti, Direct Relief today announced $1 million in financial support to nine healthcare institutions providing essential healthcare services across the country.
The country's continued instability is exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation, and essential services and assistance are urgently needed. Over the past year, Haiti has experienced a significant flare-up in security in many neighborhoods in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area. This creates a hostile environment for communities and limits access to essential resources such as food, water, shelter, and health services. In addition, Haiti has also dealt with storms, floods, landslides, and cholera outbreaks.
Thousands of people in Haiti currently face severe shortages of necessities such as food, fuel, health care and protection from violence. Recent reports indicate that Haiti's hospitals are facing severe shortages of staff and medical supplies, hampering their ability to provide adequate health care to the population. Partner organizations working in the country have been forced to suspend service delivery due to a spike in violence, leaving many vulnerable people without vital support.
The situation has worsened, with thousands of people being forced to seek safety in new locations as instability intensifies.
“Direct Relief is deeply committed to supporting Haiti’s frontline healthcare providers. Its staff members work tirelessly every day to serve patients in chronically difficult conditions that have recently become even more severe. ,” said Thomas Tai, President and CEO of Direct Relief. “The volatile situation is preventing Direct Relief from delivering regular medicines and other essential health products. This financial support is therefore critical to these great organizations and teams when they are needed most. This is to allow us to continue our activities.”
Each of the nine host organizations plays an important role in providing needed health services and support to communities across Haiti. The funds provided will support general operating costs, such as safely transporting medical staff, providing housing, and increasing safety measures during heightened insecurity. Due to safety and security concerns, the organization's name is being withheld at this time.
For many years, Direct Relief has been active in humanitarian efforts, including providing aid to Haiti in response to a variety of crises, including natural disasters and health emergencies. As one of the organization's largest recipients of aid since the 2010 earthquake, Direct Relief has provided Haiti with $418 million in medicine and medical assistance to more than 200 recipient organizations and 500 We have provided more than $10,000 in grant aid.
Direct Relief maintains strong relationships with a network of Haitian medical professional organizations and also works with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to maintain the flow of medicines and supplies into the country upon request. Masu.
In addition to the $1 million grant, Direct Relief has provided more than $3.2 million in medical assistance to 11 health institutions in Haiti since March 2023.
Direct Relief will continue to closely track the situation and respond to requests for assistance should the need arise in the coming days and months.
