The government of Haiti says 86,000 people are now living in temporary shelters, 25,000 of them in Gonaïves, where much of the city remains under water. More than 14,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed and broken roads and high flood waters are making it difficult to get to the people that need our help.

Hospitals have been flooded and left without electricity. Dirty flood water is spreading disease, and families living in temporary shelters are finding it impossible to get daily essentials like clean water and sanitation. Children are particularly at risk.

Many schools have been flooded. Those that weren’t are now being used as temporary shelters, so the start of the new academic year has been postponed and children haven’t been able to have their lessons.

Save the Children's response

We’re working to reach 7,000 families in some of the worst affected areas.

We'll be providing:

• 96,000 litres of clean drinking water to 7,000 families

• health and hygiene kits including soap, sanitary items, toothbrushes and toothpaste.

• blankets and mattresses for 1,000 families, especially those with children under five, who are living in temporary shelters or damaged houses.

• kitchen kits, including pots, pans and cooking utensils.

In Gonaïves and Jacmel we’re setting up safe spaces where children can get emotional support and carry on with their studies while their families wait for the waters to recede.

We’re also working on a long-term plan to help families return to work as soon as possible.

What you can do

Make a donation to support our Haiti emergency appeal.