Italy has allocated funding of 2 million euros to support the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) intervention in Haiti, where the population is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis following the escalation of violence last February.
The aid, provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, aims to address the urgent needs of the population, such as access to healthcare, food, and water. In recent months, the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince has fallen under the control of armed gangs, leading to the closure of schools, hospitals, shops, and communication routes. Meanwhile, the number of injured and dead civilians is rising, with people forced to leave their homes and seek refuge with relatives or in improvised camps without access to sanitation facilities.
In this precarious context, the ICRC is working diligently to provide assistance to the affected population, particularly concerning sanitation and food security. Since the beginning of the year, the ICRC has been supporting the operation of the remaining open medical facilities by providing personal protective equipment, surgical and dressing kits, fuel for generators, and medicines. Additionally, in the communities, they conduct first aid courses, distribute emergency kits, hygiene products, and solar lamps. To ensure access to water, the ICRC is distributing it via tankers and has installed tanks to increase storage capacity.
The Italian contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross will help continue these activities for the Haitian population and ensure a response to their essential needs. In Haiti, Italy is also funding two other initiatives: one by FAO to support food security (4 million euros) and another by the Women’s Peace Humanitarian Fund to strengthen the rights of women and girls (2 million euros).