DESCRIPTION

STORY: HAITI / MATHEW UPDATE

TRT: 1:51

SOURCE: UNIFEED

RESTRICTIONS: NONE

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS



DATELINE: 6 OCTOBER 2016, NEW YORK CITY / RECENT

SHOTLIST

5 OCTOBER 2016 PETIT GOAVE, HAITI



1. Various shots, plantation fields and houses destroyed



6 OCTOBER 2016, NEW YORK CITY



2. SOUNDBITE (English) Marielle Sander-Lindstrom, Representative in Haiti, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):

“The latest reports are that the maternity centers have been decimated as a result of the storm and for us at UNFPA is a priority to make sure that we have a safe space for women to seek help, especially for those who are pregnant now. We are coordinating teams of midwives to be deployed to the most affected areas and we are hoping that we can have them there in place as soon as the roads are open up.”



5 OCTOBER 2016 PETIT GOAVE, HAITI



3. Various shot, driving from Port au Prince to Petit Goave

4. Med shot, a man cutting a tree on the road

5. Wide shot, man cutting a tree on the road



6 OCTOBER 2016, NEW YORK CITY



6. SOUNDBITE (English) Marielle Sander-Lindstrom, Representative in Haiti, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA):

“We are also concerned that with the large number of displaced people, especially for women and girls who are now located in shelters with large group of people, that they will be exposed to the risk of gender-based violence. Women and girls are always most vulnerable when they are removed from their homes and place in open shelters like this.”



5 OCTOBER 2016 PETIT GOAVE, HAITI



7. Wide shot, woman being carried across a river where bridge used to stand

8. Various shots, people crossing flooded river

STORYLINE

With the death toll rising, Haitian authorities estimate that at least 350,000 people are in need of immediate humanitarian assistance, although it is expected that number may rise as assessments of hurricane Mathew’s impact are carried out.



Authorities also report that over 15,600 people were evacuated and nearly 1,900 homes were flooded. Hundreds were damaged or destroyed.



According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Matthew has severely affected southern parts of Haiti, especially the departments of Grand Anse and South, where the wind caused severe damage.



In an interview today (6 Oct) in New York, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Haiti Marielle Sander-Lindstrom said that the priority for the UN agency is now to make sure that the women who are pregnant and are expected to give birth in the coming three months have the assistance and the supplies that they need.



She said “the maternity centers have been decimated as a result of the storm and for us at UNFPA is a priority to make sure that we have a safe space for women to seek help, especially for those who are pregnant now.” She added “we are coordinating teams of midwives to be deployed to the most affected areas and we are hoping that we can have them there in place as soon as the roads are open up.”



Sander-Lindstrom also expressed her concern regarding the risk of gender-based violence. She said “with the large number of displaced people, especially for women and girls who are now located in shelters with large group of people, that they will be exposed to the risk of gender-based violence. Women and girls are always most vulnerable when they are removed from their homes and place in open shelters like this.”



She also noted that after the earthquake that hit the country in 2010, the coordination has improved and that there is a level of preparation today that there wasn’t at the time of the earthquake.



The UN Disaster Assessment Coordination team and the Government of Haiti hope to conduct a joint assessment with other humanitarian partners. Communication with and access to the worst affected areas remain extremely limited.



The World Food Programme, the World Health Organization and UNICEF, along with NGO partners are all scaling up support for critical shelter, water, sanitation and food assistance.



Meanwhile, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is supporting the Haitian authorities in their assessment and reconnaissance efforts, especially towards the most affected areas in the south western tip of Haiti, and the cities of Jeremie and Les Cayes.



MINUSTAH has deployed assets by air and road, while its police and military components have been helping to clear debris from the roadways.