What has happened in Haiti?

A massive 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on 12 January.

The country’s worst quake in two centuries hit south of the capital Port-au-Prince, and has triggered multiple aftershocks.

At least 3.5 million people have been affected directly or indirectly by this tragedy.

Latest figures released by the Haitian government one month on from the earthquake estimate the death toll to be 230,000.

Survivors are desperately in need of food, water, medication, shelter and emotional support.

What is HelpAge doing?

HelpAge’s UK emergencies team is in Port-au-Prince, along with staff from our regional development centre in Jamaica. We are the only relief and development organisation focused on the needs of older people in developing countries.

HelpAge has had a presence through partners in Haiti for eight years.  Working through local partners allows us to use local resources, which maintains long term capacity and reduces dependency.

HelpAge has taken on the day to day management of the municipal nursing home in Port-au-Prince. We will take on all aspects of caregiving for the next six months. This includes providing more meals, medicine and emotional care. We will also ensure older people's security, dignity and privacy.

With our partners, CARPA and SHAA, we have distributed food and water to 400 families in need. Together, we are providing healthcare, emotional support, relief supplies and temporary shelter.

We are distributing age friendly "wellbeing" kits containing soap, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste, towels and other cleaning items.

HelpAge and World Vision are working to give out 7.5 metric tonnes of food to older people in nursing homes. We are also broadcasting radio messages to ensure that older people are not forgotten in aid distributions. 

We are planning to set up help points in ten different locations to provide information and assistance to affected older people.

HelpAge is also working outside Port-au-Prince, dispensing food, “wellbeing” kits and medication to 250 nursing home residents in Léogâne and Petit Goave, and to 200 older people in Croix des Près. 

In total, we have distributed food and other essential items to over 1,000 older people and their families in the last month.

Find out more about our partners in Haiti

Why is it particularly bad for Haiti?

Haiti is the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere. 56% of the population lives on less than US$1 a day. The country has also suffered decades of violence and political instability.

More than 2.5 million people live in Port-au-Prince. The high population density, environmental degradation, poor waste management and inadequate construction make the Haitian capital even more vulnerable. Other towns have also been badly hit.

How are older people affected?

800,000 people (7% of the population) are aged over 60. They are particularly at risk as they are further weakened by physical, social, and economic vulnerabilities related to age.

Our experience shows that older people are often left out of relief efforts. We are working to ensure that all older people affected can access help.

The earthquake has destroyed grocery stores and clean water sources. Disease is a real threat. Thousands are homeless.
 
HelpAge will be addressing the specific needs of older people – food, water, medicine and mobility aids, emotional support and shelter.

Many older people in Haiti are looking after orphaned children and therefore need extra support.

Among the dead are people who were working in Port-au-Prince to send money back to relatives in the provinces. Many of these relatives are older people who do not receive any social assistance or pension from the government.

Without any financial support from their family, they now desperately need assistance.

How can you help?

Our international sister organisations have launched appeals to support our response in Haiti.

You can donate to our Haiti relief efforts through:

HelpAge USA

HelpAge Germany

World Granny

HelpAge in the Caribbean

HelpAge International has been working in ten different Caribbean countries since 1985 on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Livelihoods, Health, HIV/AIDS and Social Protection.

Find out more about HelpAge's work in the Caribbean

In 2009 HelpAge prepared radio broadcast messages on disaster preparedness, and to remind community members to consider older people in their communities who may need assistance in the event of a disaster.