Haiti: Meeting Immediate Needs Following Hurricane Ike, Planning for the Next Storm

(People gather at a market area in the Rabeauto slum after tropical storms left hundreds dead and thousands stranded in Gonaïves in this September 9, 2008 photo released by the UN in Haiti. (REUTERS/Logan Abassi/ Minustah/Handout)

According to Sophie Perez, CARE country director in Haiti, international donors must support not only immediate relief, but investment in reducing the factors that make Haiti uniquely vulnerable to storm damage, including widespread deforestation.

"Right now, our immediate priority is delivering emergency food supplies and helping people access safe water," said Perez. "We've been able to complete the initial round of food distribution effectively, and with minimum disruptions to order. However, it's inevitable that another powerful storm will hit sooner or later, and Haiti needs help implementing ways to lessen the impact of storms."

(Three days after the storm. (USAID Pictures)

In Gonaives and other affected areas, CARE will work with the local government and partner organizations to rehabilitate water systems, support access to quality education, help Haitians develop improved income sources and lessen chronic food insecurity.

In cooperation with partner agencies and with UN security forces, CARE is expanding distributions over the coming days, in order to reach every neighborhood in rotation and ultimately the whole population of Gonaives – about 200,000 people. Access to the most affected areas remains a challenge, with 30 percent of the town still under water and rain continuing to fall in the surrounding mountains.