Oxfam is a leading international aid agency working with communities around the world for solutions to poverty and social injustice.
Saturday 16 January 2010
Oxfam teams in Haiti initiating aid delivery
· Water most immediate problem
· Oxfam warns that picture from rural epicentre yet to emerge
Oxfam staff in Haiti are providing shovels and picks for local civil workers to clear rubble
to search for trapped victims in the capital, Port-au-Prince, following Tuesday’s massive
earthquake.
Oxfam Australia’s Emergencies Manager Richard Young said Oxfam is also sending up
to 10 tonnes of water, sanitation, health and shelter equipment, worth around $125,000 to
Haiti and has pre-positioned emergency stocks in Panama on stand-by.
“Oxfam’s plans to scale-up aid delivery are now being finalised. We have 17 humanitarian
experts arriving in Haiti today to join our 100 staff already on the ground.
“Access to clean water for survivors is a key issue right now and Oxfam will be working to
deliver water and sanitation to help prevent the spread of disease.
“The destruction continues to severely hamper aid efforts. Oxfam has had brief and
erratic communications with members of our team in Haiti. Many have themselves had
their houses destroyed and are now having to sleep in the street. Some have lost family
members. One Oxfam staff was killed in the quake.
“Essential communications with the team are marginally improving and Oxfam has more
communication equipment arriving today. The horrific picture of need, and the vast
obstacles to getting aid to people in need, is emerging,” Mr Young said.
While efforts are focused on establishing a foothold in the wrecked capital from which to
disperse aid, Oxfam has warned that the actual epicentre of the quake was in the
countryside. There is no access to rural areas, so no picture yet of the disaster there.
“This is a nightmare for survivors and aid workers alike. The airport is near ruined,
communications fractured and people are traumatized and in great need. We are now
beginning to get aid through despite the challenges,” Mr Young said.
Oxfam understands the Haitian government is planning to set up 14 camps around the
capital to give people somewhere to sleep. In this situation camps could offer the best
temporary solution to get food and water and sanitation to people in need.
“This is a massive aid effort and we do need support to fund our work. Australians are
giving generously to our appeal and we encourage people to visit www.oxfam.org.au or
phone 1800 088 110 to donate to help our efforts,” Mr Young said.
Oxfam has spokespeople in Haiti. For more information contact Kate Thwaites on +61 407
515 559
Media Release
NEWS 
