The health and humanitarian situation in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, is worsening due to the closure of its airport and the difficulty of access to the seaport, whose surroundings are controlled by armed gangs, the World Health Organization (WHO).
“There is an urgent need for blood, anesthetics and essential medicines, and only half of the city’s health facilities are operating normally,” indicated the general director of the organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“The situation could worsen significantly in the coming weeks if fuel becomes scarce and access to essential medical supplies does not improve soon,” added in a press conference in which the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Jarbas Barbosa, also expressed his concern about Haiti.
In this sense, Tedros assured that although the cholera outbreak in the country has subsided compared to the end of last year, it could break out again if the current situation continues.
“We request safe and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid, security guarantees for health workers and that health facilities be protected,” claimed Tedros, who also asked the international community to increase its financial support to the Caribbean country.
“We urge donors and citizens not to forget the Haitian people,” concluded Tedros in this sense, who recalled that the United Nations World Food Program estimates the number of people suffering from acute malnutrition in the country at 1.4 million.
Gang violence caused 8,000 deaths in Haiti last year, and these criminal organizations have come to control a 80% of Port-au-Prince, as well as other areas of the country.
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Source: Gestion
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