UNICEF estimates that 590,000 children are in need of assistance. These children and their families are predominantly in the South and Grand’Anse districts of Haiti. However, parts of the interior and the coastline between Port-a-Piment and Dame Marie have still not been reached. The number of those needing assistance is therefore expected to rise.

Hurricane Matthew - UNICEF (video)

2016/12/10 - Reports from the field suggest that the water supply to Les Cayes is improving, but Jeremie remains almost entirely without access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene conditions. In some areas there is a supply of water but no tools to retrieve it. Equally, there is concern of levels of hygiene and sanitation in public shelters.

Ensuring access to clean water and sanitation is a priority for UNICEF. Equally getting children back to school, ensuring child protection and basic levels of nutrition are focus areas for UNICEF.

• Get 1million cholera vaccines to the most affected areas. Each individual needs two doses of the vaccination, so this is sufficient to help 500,000 people.
• Provide safe water and adequate sanitation to help prevent the spread of water and vector borne diseases with particular attention to cholera - targeting 1,250,000 people / 500,000 children.

In the days following the hurricane, UNICEF has been working with the Government and the humanitarian community to pre-position crucial stocks for 10,000 people in three areas: the South, Artibonite and Northwest. In each of these areas, aid kits for 650 families are ready to be distributed.