UNICEF says safe water now available for Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 6, CMC – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says that safe water is now available for hundreds of thousands of Haitians affected by Hurricane Matthew that ripped through the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country last October killing hundreds of people and destroying infrastructure.
UNICEF said  it continues to deliver aid and provide relief to Haitians and is working in partnership with the Haitian government providing access to water for 280,000 individuals, including more than 118,000 children.
UNICEF said it has also contributed to a cholera vaccination campaign in November that reached more than 800,000 people, including more than 300,000 children.
“Three months after Matthew, we can already see improvements: safe water is increasingly available, the vast majority of schools have reopened as have a number of health facilities; and areas that are the most difficult to access are receiving assistance,” said Marc Vincent, UNICEF Representative in Haiti.
“UNICEF is continuing to fulfil its mandate and obligations to emergency and development efforts,” he added.
The UN said more than two million people, including 900,000 children were affected by the hurricane.
The storm also caused significant loss to the agricultural sector and people’s livelihoods, the UN said and that UNICEF has worked closely with communities on programmes to tackle malnutrition affecting both children and adults.
UNICEF said it has also restored 14 schools, making it possible for 4,200 students to return to classes. Another 107 schools are in various stages of rehabilitation, UNICEF added.
As of the end of 2016, the UN said UNICEF’s US$36.6 million appeal is about 85 per cent funded.
UNICEF has called on donors to provide it with the support it needs to enable Haitian children and their families benefit from safe water, sanitation, protection, education and healthcare services.