The UN and its partners in Haiti call for the creation of a humanitarian corridor

The United Nations and the humanitarian community in Haiti are deeply concerned about the serious consequences of the blocking of the Varreux Terminal on the humanitarian situation, in particular the resurgence of cholera, and call for the immediate opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow the release of fuel to meet the urgent needs of the population.

The blocking of the Varreux Terminal, the main entry point for fuel in Haiti, has led to the closure of health centers over the last weeks now, and caused the interruption of water treatment services of the National Directorate of Drinking Water and Sanitation of Haiti (DINEPA) and private treated water production and distribution companies. Access to potable water, sanitation and health care is severely disrupted, which is essential to prevent and respond quickly to cholera.

The crisis that Haiti is going through affects the population throughout the territory and the most vulnerable people are the first to suffer from the blockage. With the deterioration of the operating conditions of many health centers and hospitals, patients suffering from chronic illness, pregnant women, children and newborns are the first to be affected by the difficulty of accessing health care. Over the next three months, some 28,900 pregnant women and more than 28,000 newborns are at risk of not receiving health care, while 9,965 obstetric complications would go untreated. In addition, the fuel crisis could further aggravate food insecurity in the country, which would already reach 45 percent of the population according to projections made in March 2022.

The United Nations and humanitarian partners are particularly concerned about the precarious situation in the 36 spontaneous sites in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, which have some 21,600 displaced by recent gang violence. In some areas, access to basic services such as treated water, hygiene and sanitation is virtually cut off, reinforcing the conditions conducive to the spread of cholera.

While it can be fatal without immediate medical attention, cholera is preventable and treatable. With more than 52 suspected cases of cholera and 5 confirmed by health authorities, there is still time to stop the spread of the disease.

The United Nations and its partners recall the importance of respecting the humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence in establishing and maintaining access to emergency-affected populations.