Seven years after the earthquake, Handicap International continues to improve rehabilitation services in Haiti

"Seven years after the earthquake the country is slowly getting back on its feet. The population is still marked by the after-effects of the disaster. Against a backdrop of political unrest, over 46,000 people^[1] affected by the crisis are still living in 31 displaced persons’ camps made up of tents or temporary shelters. Hurricane Matthew which hit the country on 4 October further weakened an already vulnerable population," says Catherine Stubbe, Handicap International Director in Haiti.

Immediate relief

In the wake of the earthquake, Handicap International mobilised up to 600 people and deployed unprecedented resources to assist the people affected by the disaster. The organisation provided 90,000 people with rehabilitation care, 1,400 people with orthopaedic fitting^[2] and 25,000 people with psychosocial support.

Sustainable projects

Seven years after the earthquake, the organisation continues to support the Haitian population by developing long-term projects.

• Given the lack of local skills in rehabilitation, the organisation has set up the first training course for rehabilitation technicians. In August 2015, 72 students received their qualifications^[3]. Today, Handicap International continues to train rehabilitation technicians, to improve the skills of professionals already working in the sector but without official training, to facilitate access to high quality rehabilitation services and to provide support^[4] to health structures.
• Handicap International is also working to improve protection for abandoned children living with foster families or in children's homes^[5].
• The organisation supports over 200 people, in particular people with disabilities, to help them develop an economic activity, earn a living and provide for their families.
• It also works with local economic development stakeholders^[6] to ensure they take people with disabilities into account in their work.
• Finally, Handicap International raises the population's awareness of road safety and trains public transport drivers in safe driving behaviours.

Hurricane Matthew: an emergency response

Alongside its development projects, Handicap International also mobilises its teams each time there is a new emergency. In October 2016, the organisation assisted the victims of Hurricane Matthew (4 October) which affected more than 2 million people when it hit Haiti. The organisation implemented rehabilitation care, distributed wheelchairs, walking frames and crutches and organised the distribution of emergency kits^[7], hygiene kits and essential household items.  The organisation also set up a logistics platform to facilitate the delivery of aid by sea or road to populations living in difficult to access areas. Finally, Handicap International identified the most fragile members of the population - isolated heads of households, pregnant women, older people and people with disabilities and supported humanitarian organisations to ensure these groups were able to access humanitarian services (health services, education, rehabilitation etc.).