2-Year Haiti Handicap Intl

8/3/2019 2-Year Haiti Handicap Intl

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Contact:LeaRadick,CommunicationsOfficer,Tel.:+1(240)4503529,Email:[email protected]

Benoit Darrieux / Handicap International

Haiti: Turning a disaster into asource of strength

After the earthquake: Two years of action

CONTENTSKey Figures 1Introduction Acknowledgements 2Were still facing a major challenge Three questions for Patrick Senia, Development OperationsDirector 3Our Actions 4

Inclusion of People with Disabilities 5Logistical Support and Reconstruction 6Health and Protection 7Training and Capacity-Building 9

Testimonials 10

HaitiSituation Report, December 21, 2011


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Handicap International Haiti December 7, 2011

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Current situation:The earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010, claimed the lives of severalhundred thousand people and destroyed large sections of the countrys key infrastructure. Already

one of the poorest countries in the world (it is ranked 145th out of 169 countries on the U.N.Development Programs Human Development Index), many areas of Haiti are still dependent onhumanitarian aid and more than 500,000 people are waiting for new housing.

KEY FIGURES

In the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and the first year ofHandicap Internationals operations, quick deployment of sufficientresources to meet the acute needs of the population was a challenge forour organization and other humanitarian actors.

Our organization faced a new challenge in 2011 - that of ensuring theresources deployed in Haiti remained in the country after humanitarian

operators left, and that the people of Haiti are better protected in thefuture against natural and public health disasters and better able to case-manage the most vulnerable individuals, including people with disabilities,on a daily basis and during emergencies.

The organization aims to achieve two main goals in 2012: 1.Thesuccessful completion of our emergency operations, including theconstruction of some 500 new transitional shelters for the most vulnerableindividuals in need of accommodations, and 2. Manage and include peoplewith disabilities and establish structures to reduce the human impact offuture natural disasters.

1Source: UNOCHA situation report, September 22-29, 2011: http://www.unocha.org/crisis/horn-africa-crisis2Source: Haitian government

3Source: UNOCHA Humanitarian Bulletin October 18 November 17, 2011:

http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Ocha%20Haiti%20_humanitarian_Bulletin%2012%20Eng.pdf4Handicap Internationals health team in Haiti produced a report at the end of January 2010 on the situation facing people with injuries. The total number ofamputations was estimated to be between 2,000 and 4,000, with at least 1,000 people requiring a lower-limb prosthesis. This conservative estimate is based ondirect visits to 17 hospitals and data gathered by telephone or by email from most of the countrys other health facilities in which operations were performed,

and from the relevant authorities. This estimate has not been challenged since and is supported by most operators in the field. It has not been possible to

reassess these figures due to problems collecting data at a national level; the data collection criteria also vary too widely from one organization to the next.

Earthquake-related humanitarian situation1

People affected by theearthquake

Almost 3.5 million

Deceased 222,5702Injured 300,5722People still living incamps (internallydisplaced persons)

550,000 3

People amputated afterthe earthquake

Between 2,000 and 4,0004

Cholera-related humanitarian situation1

Cholera victims(cumulative) 485,092

2

Deceased 6,7122

2010

2011

2012


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INTRODUCTIONPresent from the start of the disaster, Handicap Internationals teams continue to help those whowere most-affected by the earthquake. Thanks to the exceptional support of its donors and fundingbodies, and the dedication of its teams on the ground, Handicap International has already done a lotto support earthquake victims, to help amputees stand tall and perform daily tasks again and toassist the most vulnerable individuals, with or without disabilities, overcome each new obstacle. Thepeople of Haiti need to rebuild both their lives and their country. Thats why Handicap International,which provides aid to people with disabilities, is also building shelters, setting up rapid responsesystems to protect the population from future disasters and promoting the economic and socialinclusion of vulnerable individuals.

An exceptional commitmentSince the start of its operations in Haiti, more than 500 expatriate staff5 have taken partin the operations organized by Handicap International. At the height of the operation, the teams onthe ground consisted of up to 600 people, including 80 expatriate staff. Handicap Internationalsemergency relief for the victims of the earthquake in Haiti was made possible through the expertiseof our staff in logistics, reconstruction, orthopedic-fitting, psychological support and inclusion.

1,459 people have been fitted with orthopedic devices6, 22, 000 tons of aid have beentransported7, 1,050 transitional homes have been built to re-house around 5,250 people1.90,000 rehabilitation and basic care sessions have been provided and 25,000 people havebenefited from psychosocial support activities. 5,600 mobility aids have been distributed, and ourphysiotherapists have performed14,500rehabilitation sessions.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSHandicap International would like to thank the tens of thousands ofindividual donors who have responded to its emergency fundraisingappeals for Haiti and who continue to support its actions to help thepeople of the2010 earthquake in Haiti.

Since the launch of Handicap Internationals response to the earthquake,the organizations actions have been supported by:

Public institutions: Aktion Deutschland Hilft, the Canadian InternationalDevelopment Agency (CIDA), the City of Munich, the European Commission(Humanitarian Office - ECHO), the Flemish Government, the French Ministry of ForeignAffairs, Grand Lyon, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Quebec Ministry forHealth and Social Services (MSSS), the Quebec Ministry for International Relations(MRI), Rgion le-de-France, Rgion Rhne-Alpes, Swedish International DevelopmentCooperation Agency (SIDA), the U.K. Department for International Development,USAID/OFDA, USAID/Leahy War Victims Fund, Ville dAnnecy, Ville de Lyon, the WorldFood Programme, the World Health Organisation (WHO);

Private institutions and companies: American Academy of Orthopaedic

Surgeons, American Friends Service Committee, American Red Cross, Chaine duBonheur, Fondation Abb Pierre, Fondation Eden, Fondation EDF, Fondation de France,Fondation Groupe SEB, Fundacin Len Jimenes,Fundacin MCHB, Grande Mosque deLyon, Hpital Assistance Belgique, le Lyce Franais de New York, the Midler FamilyFoundation, Mutualit Franaise, MV Transportation/Freedom of Mobility Foundation, Inc., the NPD Group, Inc. EmergencyFund, Open Society Foundations, the Rheingold Family Foundation, sanofi-aventis, ShelterBox, T. Rowe Price Foundation, Inc.,and all who contributed to the Another Chance to Dance event, including Caf 76, Heidi Latsky Dance and the cast of theGIMP Project and the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, among many others.

5 Countries of origin include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Finland, Japan, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Nicaragua, Pakistan, thePhilippines, El Salvador, Switzerland, Togo and the United States.6 531 with lower limb prostheses, 150 with upper limb prostheses, 728 with orthoses.7 Between January 14, 2010, and March 31, 2011, for around 100 humanitarian organizations.

S. Sommella / Handicap International

Fyme had to have her leg amputated

after the earthquake. She has nowbeen fitted with a prosthesis by

Handicap International.


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Until people with disabilities areable to exercise their rights,Handicap International plans tocontinue its work in Haiti.

Were still facing a major

challenge.Patrick Senia, Development

Operations Director1. Youre here to boostthe development

component of theoperations in Haiti - doesthat mean the emergency

is over?

I wish that were true, butunfortunately its not. Haitiis unique because its veryvulnerable to chronicdisasters. The worst of the

earthquake is definitely behind us, although Haitistill bears the scars (more than 500,000 people arestill living in displaced peoples camps). But theresalways a new disaster just around the corner: Thecholera epidemic has not been contained, the island

is frequently threatened by cyclones, and variousparts of the country are affected by large-scaleflooding and landslides. Plus theres a real risk ofanother earthquake; one occurred just a fewkilometers from Port-au-Prince last week. So werecontinuing with our emergency operations, eventhough the overall intervention strategy is now morefocused on preparing the population to minimize thehuman impact of future crises than on aiding theinjured.

On the positive side, we have reached a point wherewe can see further into the future, which means wecan now focus on development issues. Wereextending the work performed over the last twoyears to ensure the sustainability of the relief effort,with close support from Haitian public and civilsociety organizations. Forexample, the functionalrehabilitation center opened bythe organization to help victimsof the earthquake (amputees, inparticular) was transferred inNovember to our developmentteam, which is now preparing totransfer these services to local organizations.Theres a lot at stake and we hope to ensure theseservices continue to benefit the population as awhole (such as, children with cerebral palsy), andnot just earthquake victims.

2. What are the populations needs at present?

Their needs vary enormously from area to area andperson to person. There are acute needs in thecapital, Port-au-Prince, which are made worse byhigh unemployment, particularly among youngpeople, the rising price of basic foodstuffs, andinsecurity; the termination of water distribution hasmade access to water more difficult, and there waslimited access to education at the start of the new

school term, despite the governments efforts toprovide education. Set against this background ofwidespread poverty, the situation facing people withdisabilities is even more alarming and their basicneeds - food and water, accommodation, care,access to orthopedic-fitting services, and a safeenvironment - are often not met. Many aredependent on help from their communities and wequite often meet people with disabilities who barely

get one meal a day. What makes the situation moreworrying still is the fact that many NGOs thatarrived after the earthquake are now leaving thecountry. The Haitians who work for theseorganizations are facing a loss of income and thepopulation has access to fewer services. Were at adifficult stage.

3. How long will the international aid effort benecessary?

That depends on each operator and the goals theyhave set for themselves. Some organizations havealready left. Handicap International was closelyinvolved in the emergency operation from the start,

which was vital, but it would be irresponsible toleave it there. Our goal is to ensure people withdisabilities and vulnerable individuals - whether theyare earthquake victims or not - are taken intoconsideration and case-managed during naturaldisasters, but also in general. Thats why we intendto build the capacities of local organizations to offerservices that people need, while ensuring that thecost of care or the absence of services in certainregions does not lead to discrimination.

This requires training, the close involvement of ourpartners (to ensure the long-term success of ourprojects), and support for public policydevelopment. Its difficult to say at the moment howlong that will take. It will depend on the capacity of

the authorities and local organizations to graduallytake responsibilityfor the servicesoffered by NGOsand to pay forthese services outof the publicpurse. However,Haiti has fewresources and if

international aid, as is often the case, dries up toosoon, we risk seeing the situation go from bad toworse, or even getting out of hand (demonstrations,street fighting, etc.). Until people with disabilitiesare able to exercise their rights, HandicapInternational plans to continue its work in Haiti. Thiswill take as long as it takes, but we are determinednot to leave before this goal has been achieved.


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OUR ACTIONS

2011: A strategic turning point for Handicap I nternational's activities inHaiti.

Our programs are divided into two intervention areas:

Building local capacities to respond to emergencies, while retaining an additional responsecapacity (for the risks of natural disasters and of epidemics) to help the most vulnerable individuals.

Developing long-term activities, particularly in the field of disability, through the continuousprovision of rehabilitation services, the training of paramedic professionals, ensuring the accessibilityof various buildings (public and private) and building the capacities of local operators (civil societyand local authorities).

On-going actions Completed actions

Inclusion ofpeople withdisabilities and

vulnerableindividuals

- Ensuring the accessibility of buildingsessential to the economic inclusion of peoplewith disabilities

- Awareness-raising and training for nationaland international operators regarding theimportance of making homes and publicbuildings accessible to people withdisabilities- Implementing income-generating activitiesfor the most vulnerable people withdisabilities and awareness-raising foreconomic inclusion operators regarding theinclusion of people with disabilities

- Setting up disability andvulnerability focal points (DVFPs) toensure that the most fragile people

with disabilities are included in thehumanitarian aid effort.

Logisticalsupport andreconstruction

- Setting up temporary hurricane-resistantand earthquake-resistant shelters accessibleto people with reduced mobility. This projectwas completed at the end of the year, but it

is likely to re-launch in early 2012 to build500 more shelters and consolidate existingones, for people still living in camps fordisplaced persons and in areas not yetcovered by this initiative.

- Transport of humanitarian aid andmanagement of the logistics platform- Distribution of tents, food and basicequipment

- Distribution of emergency kitsduring Hurricane Tomas- Cash for work projects employingHaitians for reconstruction andrehabilitation work

Health andprotection

- Production of prostheses- Orthopedic fitting and rehabilitation- Supply of mobility aids- Supporting the case-management ofchildren with cerebral palsy

- Helping hospitals case-manage theinjured- Emergency fitting of orthopedicdevices- Community psychosocial support- Cholera prevention and awareness-raising actions.- Support for NGOs in the fight

against choleraTraining andcapacity-building

- Training in the production of orthopedicdevices and functional rehabilitation- Advocacy for the development of a nationalrehabilitation policy- Advocacy and technical training on buildingaccessibility- Implementing rapid response mechanismsfor natural disasters (in collaboration withlocal authorities)


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1. Inclusion of People with DisabilitiesOur goal: Accessibility for all and the inclusion of people with disabilities;

Can we transform a disaster into an opportunity?

Olivier Jourdain / Handicap International - Rose-Mika, injured during the earthquake, is learning to sew at Indepco, a company whose

director is fully aware of the need to include people with disabilities.

Natural disasters often tell us a lot about a countrys social inequalities. Thats why Handicap

International is keen to not only ensure people with disabilities are taken into account duringemergency humanitarian operations but also included in the countrys education, health andeconomic policies over the long term.

The organization is expanding its work with local communities, national institutions and with otherinternational NGOs to ensure that the population as a whole is taken into account. This work is vitallyimportant for people who have lived with disabilities since the earthquake, and for everyone else.

Thanks to Handicap Internationals key role in implementing emergency operations immediately afterthe disaster (when it operated a logistics, transport and humanitarian aid distribution base), it wasable to effectively raise the awareness of its partners and ensure that people with disabilities weretaken into account during the aid effort.

Through this awareness and advocacy work, Handicap International aims to promote a much greater

awareness of these issues. It is vital that the assistance provided to people injured or disabled duringthe earthquake of 2010 marks the first step toward a more inclusive society. Most people in Haiti nowknow someone in their family or circle of friends and acquaintances, who has a disability. No one canor should ignore the importance of taking people with disabilities into account as part of thereconstruction effort, whether in terms of reconstructing buildings, the economy or the health andeducation systems.

Completed actions:

The socio-economic inclusion of people with disabilities is a decisive step forward and an additionalchallenge on the path taken by disabled people on the way to fully rebuilding their lives. Thats why


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Handicap International has launched a socio-economic inclusion project to foster the creation ofincome-generating activities. Some 60 patients currently benefit from this service. By raising theawareness of company managers, we also promote the training and inclusion of people withdisabilities in key local occupational structures.

Physical accessibility Economic inclusion

Ensuring the accessibility of buildings essential to theeconomic inclusion of the most vulnerablepeople with disabilities

Implementing income-generating activities for themost vulnerable people with disabilities

Awareness-raising and training for national and internationaloperators regarding the importance of making homes andpublic buildings accessible to people with disabilities

Awareness-raising for economic inclusionoperators (microfinance agencies, etc.) regardingthe inclusion of people with disabilities

2. Logistical Support and ReconstructionFaced with a population deprived of its very means of existence, Handicap Internationalprovided logistical support to organize and coordinate the relief effort and meet thepopulations basic needs as part of its mandate to help the most vulnerable members of

society. Meeting the day-to-day needs of earthquake victims included the distribution of

aid, the organization of cash for work activities and the building of transitional sheltersfor vulnerable and isolated people.

CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS

Handicap International managed a project to buildmore than 1,000 transitional, hurricane-resistant andearthquake-resistant homes accessible to peoplewith reduced mobility. These shelters are designedprimarily for the most vulnerable and they willprovide accommodation for more than 5,000 peoplein Petit-Gove and Grand-Gove.

These shelters are designed to last three years.However, since their structure is designed to resistbad weather, they can last longer if properlymaintained. They have a wooden framework andwalls of woven wooden slats (clissade), with a roofdesigned to withstand strong gusts of wind. Thefloor is made from a raised concrete slab to protectoccupants from humidity during the rainy season.These homes are adapted to the needs of their occupants and adjustments can be made if necessary(access ramps, wider doors, special door handles, etc.).

Available in modules with a range of surface areas, the shelters are adapted to different sizes offamilies and construction sites. These prefabricated transitional shelters were prepared in kits byHandicap Internationals teams in a workshop created especially for this purpose. They were then

transported to the field and assembled with families to foster full ownership and ensure the shelteroccupants are able to maintain their shelter when it is in need of repair.

By December 2011, a total of 1,050 transitional homes were built, providing accommodation forsome 5,000 people.

Handicap International Shelter with access ramp


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Mathieu Therain / Handicap International: Islne, who has had both arms

amputated, learns how to perform day-to-day activities again.

3. Health and ProtectionHandicap Internationals health activities areperformed in coordination with the Haitiangovernment and other key national and

international operators in the health sector. TheHaitian staff recruited for health activities aremainly rehabilitation professionals and community

workers.

Between the opening of the center in early March2010 and September 1, 2011, 1,409 patients were

registered, 531 of whom w ere fitted with a low er-limb prosthesis and 728 with an orthosis.8 Some4,500 rehabilitation sessions have beenperformed.

FITTING OF ORTHOPEDIC DEVICES AND FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION

The daily activities area

Located inside the functionalrehabilitation center in Port-au-Prince, this area was created toenable everyone who visits thecenter to:

practice using technicalaids that will help themperform daily tasks(cooking, clotheswashing, writing);

assess the value of these

technical aids provide training on how

to use them, whennecessary;

assess and adapt theseaids, if necessary.

Mathieu Therain / Handicap International: Islne, who has had both arms amputated, learns how to

perform day-to-day activities again.

This area, which is staffed by a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist, an assistant, who has anamputated arm (and who was fitted with a prosthesis by Handicap International) and a psychosocialworker, hosts patients fitted with an upper-limb prosthesis to help them become self-reliant asquickly as possible. By using their prosthesis, people with upper-limb amputations can help prevent

rejection of the prosthesis or under-use of it. They can familiarize themselves with the prosthesis andhow to maintain it, as well as practice controlling the mechanical grip and, if necessary, themechanical elbow, by learning the right amount of strength to use. Finally, they take part in everydaysituations and activities requiring the use of the prosthesis and an able arm.

This area allows the beneficiary to practice daily activities in a reassuring environment, supported bythe participants and without the fear of failing in front of other people. They perform severalactivities, including cooking, washing and hanging out clothes, washing dishes, carrying objects,changing and feeding a baby, making a bed and getting dressed.

8 An orthosis is a device that corrects an impairment affecting a limb or the spine. For example, a splint, collar or corset. Unlike an orthosis, a prosthesis replaces

an absent limb or organ.

In partnership with the Healing Handsfor Haiti organization, HandicapInternational set up an orthopedic-fitting and functional rehabilitationcenter in a former warehouse near theChamp-de-Mars, in the heart of Port-au-

Prince. The centers team consists ofnational and expatriate staff, includinga team from the University of DonBosco in El Salvador. Several membersof Healing Hands for Haiti have alsojoined the team.


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Handicap Internationals teamsproduce most of the adapted toolsthemselves, including chopping boardsfor people with one arm, brooms andspecial tables. They also work closelywith the economic inclusion project toenable people with disabilities toperform work activities and fullyrestore their self-reliance.

The daily activities area also hosts mediation sessions run by psychosocial teams. This allows peopleto express their anxieties and personal difficulties,exchange advice and take part in informal mutual aidand support networks with other beneficiaries.

This area now also provides services to people fittedwith a lower-limb prosthesis who are experiencing self-reliance issues at home. This service is provided in

addition to gait training.

Fitting of lower limbs (since March 2010)

Lower-limb amputees were initially supplied with temporary emergency prostheses. An essentialstage in the orthopedic-fitting process, these temporary prostheses enable patients to immediatelyget back on their feet, prepare them to be fitted with a permanent prosthesis and promote their rapidinclusion in society.

The production of permanent prostheses, which take longer to produce but are more aestheticallyappealing and last longer, began in April 2010. They are designed to last between three to five yearsfor an adult, but need to be changed every six months for a growing child.

Rooftop gait trainingA gait training course consisting of several uneven surfaces similar to roadways in Port-au-Prince wasset up on the roof of the functional rehabilitation center. It is designed for people whose prosthesesalready provide them with a high level of self-reliance.

Dance workshopFabienne Michel, an above-knee amputee fitted by Handicap International and a well-knowntraditional and hip-hop dancer in Haiti, set up a dance workshop for beneficiaries. Since May 2011,she has been working on four new dance routines, accompanied by two percussionists. The sessionshave been held in the gymnasium of the functional rehabilitation center every week since June.

Photos: S. Sommella / Handicap International

Above: Gait training on the roof of the functional rehabilitation center.

Right: Fabienne Michel, 20, dance teacher


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4. Training and Capacity-BuildingTraining of Haitian staff and local rehabilitation capacity-building.

Handicap Internationals goal is to create and coordinate thecountrys long-term capacity to provide rehabilitation andfitting services. Thats why the organization is training itsHaitian staff to ensure the sustainability of its services.

Specialists from our organization are currently developing adiploma-based training program to enhance the transfer ofskills and the long-term impact of our operations, incollaboration with Haitian and expatriate staff from theHealing Hands for Haiti organization.

Support for children with cerebral palsy

Handicap Internationals functional rehabilitation center has played host to groups of children withcerebral palsy aged 4 to 6, accompanied by their parents, since the middle of April 2011. Basedaround six sessions held over six weeks, the association helps parents independently case-managetheir children by teaching them a number of simple practices. An initial evaluation performed by ourteams and partners enabled us to identify 70 children. They are gradually being provided withsessions at the center.

An initial home visit enables us to identify childrens needs in terms of orthopedic-fitting (orthoses),technical aids for daily activities, and advice on enhancing their self-reliance. Then, during thesessions organized at the center, the children, accompanied by a parent, perform sensorial simulationactivities (based mainly around games and drawing, which also enable children to express theirneeds) and functional exercises (learning to sit down, eat, etc.).

Handicap International produces or assembles physical aids, such as chairs or vertical surfaces, tohelp the children stand up.

PREPARING FOR AN EMERGENCY

Emergency rapid response mechanism

In an effort to mitigate the impact of future natural disasters, our teams evaluated the areas covered byHandicap Internationals emergency relief effort and identified the potential risk factors. The teamsthen identified key persons to mobilize in the event of a new disaster. In addition, local aid operators,including the Haitian Civil Protection Department, are conducting an inventory of emergency reliefaccess roads and logistical resources already available on the ground.

The organization has also established and positioned stocks of equipment that can be used in theevent of a new emergency, such as tents, blankets, walking aids, torches and radios (to ensureisolated persons are able to receive information about a cyclone, etc.).

If a new, major emergency arises, the organization will be able to mobilize pre-identified teams toimmediately perform evaluations based on pre-defined procedures. These teams will provide a multi-

sector response covering basic needs, by providing sheets, hygiene kits, cooking kits and attending toneeds associated with water, hygiene, sanitation, health, nutrition, education and child protection.

Handicap International Training session


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I ts time to make a d ifference.

Interview with Gillian Fergusson, Handicap InternationalsRehabilitation Manager at the Functional Rehabilitation Center inHaiti (November 14, 2011)

Gillian Fergusson, a trained physiotherapist fromScotland, arrived in Haiti with the first Handicap

International emergency teams nearly two years ago toimplement and facilitate rehabilitation activities at theFunctional Rehabilitation Center in P ort-au-Prince.

Here, she reflects on her experience and the workHandicap International is performing with the families ofchildren w ith disabilities.

Although Haiti was not Gillians first mission abroad - she hadpreviously worked as a physiotherapist in Southeast Asia - the situationin Haiti was totally new to her. Lots of people were coming to us,many of them young people, who had been amputated following the

earthquake, and so initially we were working under a lot of pressuresimply helping them stand tall again.

Handicap International quickly expanded its activities to includepsychological support for amputees and exercises to help people learn

how to perform daily tasks again. For example, we set up workshops for people with upper-limb disabilities,where they could practice tying shoe laces or changing [diapers]. It might not seem like much, but in fact itsreally important. It helps amputees become more self-reliant and restores their self-confidence. We also run acooking workshop where people practice their skills but where they can also discuss their disability while eating ameal theyve prepared.Helping children living w ith cerebral palsy

The opening of the Functional Rehabilitation Center also enabled us to provide psychosocial support to helpchildren with cerebral palsy and their families. The six-week workshops were developed to help children improvetheir comfort and independence, but also to enable their families to better understand their disability. Veryoften families realize that the disability is less severe than they imagined. They come here to learn how to givetheir children more help, but in the end many of them realize that their childs capacities are much betterdeveloped than they thought, and that their children can live relatively autonomously if they allow them to movearound in an adapted environment.

Once the goals of the workshop have been agreed, the children learn how to feed themselves or simply to sit up,depending on their needs. Based on games and gymnastics exercises that can be done at home, these activitiesare performed in close collaboration with families, who gradually learn the true nature of their childs disability.They meet, exchange experiences and support each other. Providing these children and their families with asafe haven where they can meet each other and talk is vital in itself. In addition to the work performed by ourteams, whats important is that families can meet up and encourage each other not to feel ashamed about whatother people think and to really make a difference. They share advice on overcoming the problems that theyand their children face in their environment. At the end of the day, children who used to be hidden by their

families can now go out and take part in community life. Its something that only families can do, but I thinkthat when we achieve this result, we can be really proud that we helped them along the way.

Federico Saracini / Handicap International


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We can be proud of everything weve accomplished to

date.

Interview with Jrme Besnier, OperationsCoordinator for Handicap InternationalsEmergency Response Division in Haiti (November10, 2011)

Almost two years after Haiti was hit by a

major earthquake, Handicap I nternational ispreparing to reduce its emergencyoperations to refocus efforts on the work

being done by the organizations specialistdevelopment teams. Here, we take a lookback at the work accomplished so far.

When Haiti was struck by an earthquake in January2010, Handicap International launched anunprecedented emergency response to provide

immediate aid to the disasters victims. Involved in avariety of operations, including logistical support,epidemic control, assistance for vulnerable individuals,orthopedic-fitting, rehabilitation services, and the

building of temporary shelters, the organization was able to draw on its expertise across a range of fields.

After nearly two years of intense activity, it is time for Handicap Internationals emergency teams to take stockof their achievements and begin a phased transition toward development activities, with a goal of providingsupport for local structures and operations to help people with disabilities.

For Jrme Besnier, who recently spent a year as an emergency operations coordinator in Haiti, an enormousamount has already been achieved:

Although the challenges we face are still immense particularly in terms of reconstruction, prevention and themanagement of natural disasters - I feel that things are really moving forward. In some sectors the scars of the

earthquake are beginning to fade, allowing us to gradually concentrate our efforts on more structural challenges.Theres an enormous amount of work left to be done, at every level, from reconstruction and the health systemto the economic development of the country in general, but its already satisfying to say that we can now turnour full attention to these issues.

Preparing for the transition

From the first months of the operation, Handicap Internationals teams were faced with a major challenge: Goingbeyond its emergency relief effort and providing sustainable support based on development actions. All of ourefforts to meet the immediate needs of the local population turn out to have had an impact that goes far beyondour expectations. Working on the accessibility of temporary shelters for people with disabilities, for example, andon sanitary facilities and public buildings, currently under reconstruction, has helped develop work routines andprovided examples of best practices that should now be applied more widely in the design of new buildings.

People whose work touches on disabilities have also been able to build their technical capacities. At theFunctional Rehabilitation Center we set up in Port-au-Prince, we work with Haitian specialists who will be able tocarry over this orthopedic-fitting and rehabilitation work to other facilities. Its very satisfying to see that Haiti isgradually restoring and developing its capacity to case-manage these types of services autonomously.

All of the projects organized over the last two years have been put in place with remarkable efficiency, accordingto Besnier. In the end, its quite incredible, given the scope of the operation and the fact that we were workingunder a lot of pressure to meet acute needs as quickly as possible, that everything worked out so well! Most ofthe projects were actually pilot projects, in terms of their design or scale, but we were able to rely on theemergency expertise of Handicap International and the remarkable dedication of the teams on the ground toensure our operations - logistical, reconstruction, psychological support, sanitation, orthopedic-fitting andrehabilitation were a success. I think that we can be proud of everything we have accomplished to date.

Marion Legrand / Handicap International

Members of the shelter team during the ceremony to celebrate the

construction of the final transitional shelter built by HandicapInternational in Petit-Gove and Grand-Gove.


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Additional Information

Press contact: Lea RadickTel: +1 (240) 450-3529Email:[email protected]

To learn more about our activities in Haiti, please visit our w ebsite:http://www.handicap-international.us

Find the latest news and testimonies from people we work with by visitingthe Haiti Reports from the Field page on our website, which includes thesevideos about four female amputees, all of w hom lost limbs in the aftermathof the Haiti earthquake:

Maryse Myriam

Islande Reynane
http://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7WPD1-Etfpshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IEtTPf2gl3ghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eNA7CiVRb0Qhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IIu4p8kmTn0http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eNA7CiVRb0Qhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7WPD1-Etfpshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IEtTPf2gl3ghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=IIu4p8kmTn0http://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/four-female-amputees-on-the-road-to-recovery/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76bhttp://www.handicap-international.us/where-we-work/programs/haiti/reports-from-the-field/?dechi_programmes[selpays]=72&cHash=2ab3adb76b

Documents

2-Year Haiti Handicap Intl