People fleeing violence in Port-au-Prince urgently need water and sanitation

“As an emergency medical organisation, we stepped in to fill gaps in water and sanitation services when the health situation become critical and no other major organisation could respond,” says Sophie Mealier, MSF’s head of mission. “Now that access to the existing sites has improved, it is time for others to meet these needs while we continue to focus on areas that are more difficult to reach and on critical health needs.”

“The majority of the sites have significant water, sanitation and hygiene problems,” says Frenso Désir, water and sanitation project supervisor. “For instance, while MSF provides potable water and other services, sanitation remains a major challenge. Waste management is a persistent issue, exacerbated by the control of armed groups over disposal sites.”

We call for more humanitarian aid to address the dire needs of displaced communities. Water, sanitation and hygiene services are especially needed. These services include water trucking, latrine and shower rehabilitation, hygiene kit distribution, and health and hygiene promotion. We also urge stakeholders to allocate the necessary resources to ensure the safety and dignity of displaced people.