UNICEF Ensures Thousands Have Safe Drinking Water in Haiti

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and its partners are working tirelessly to ensure that thousands in Haiti have access to safe drinking water.

According to the official website of the United Nations, more than 30,000 people who have been displaced due to gang violence in the capital city of Haiti, Port-au-Prince, can now access safe drinking water thanks to UNICEF and its partners.

Port-au-Prince has been under the grip of armed groups for several years, with coordinated attacks occurring about two months ago, causing paralysis in the capital area.

Since then, UNICEF, in collaboration with the National Directorate of Water and Sanitation and its partners, has provided over 2.6 million liters of safe drinking water to children and families in 20 displacement sites.

The recent escalation of violence has exacerbated the already dire situation faced by children and families, who are already lacking basic support and facilities.

The current rainy season has further compounded the plight of these displaced individuals, with massive flooding occurring in low-lying areas of the capital and a resurgence of cholera cases in the extremely impoverished City Soleil neighborhood.

UNICEF leads efforts to address water, sanitation, and hygiene issues in Haiti, providing over half of the total support, and ensuring access to safe drinking water, sanitation services, and hygiene facilities at all displacement sites.

Initiatives include water trucking, treatment of piped water, repair of water and sanitation systems, construction of temporary latrines, provision of basic hygiene items, and dissemination of hygiene messages.

UNICEF stated that its efforts in the water, sanitation, and hygiene sector "have achieved significant results" in March, with over 2.66 million liters of chlorinated water distributed to displaced families and children.

Additionally, UNICEF and its partners have distributed hygiene supplies to nearly 11,000 displaced individuals in six locations.

UNICEF aims to support over 884,000 people throughout Haiti this year to access safe drinking water and household needs, as well as appropriate sanitation services and essential water, sanitation, and hygiene supplies.