UN starts food distribution in Haiti

GENEVA - Small scale food distributions were underway in Haiti, UN officials said Thursday, while warning of health threats to the vulnerable population of the Caribbean nation.

“Food distribution started yesterday (Wednesday),” said Charles Vincent with the World Food Programme, “and today (Thursday) will start in Port au Prince.”

The capital of Haiti has been one of the hardest struck areas by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit the impoverished country Tuesday afternoon local time.

Vincent admitted that the food going to several thousand people was a “drop in the ocean” compared to the needs of the Haitian population, but said it was a start and aid efforts were being stepped up, with larger scale work expected in the coming days, as supplies flow into the country.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization said eight hospitals were damaged or destroyed in Haiti and two others in the neighbouring Dominican Republic were damaged as well.

“This was already an especially vulnerable population so it is a particularly devastating impact,” said Paul Garwood with the WHO, warning of disease spreads as the water supply was damaged.

Some 100 members of the United Nations’ staff were still missing, many believed to be buried under rubble.

“All staff there in Haiti are exhausted,” said Vincent, adding that they continued to work through the night to improve the relief efforts.

National Red Cross societies from Europe and North America were aiding the local Haitian Red Cross, whose headquarters was damaged in the quake.

“We are getting a lot of response from national societies around the world,” said one official with the Red Cross.