Haiti, two years on

Challenges remain

Although the country has recovered to a small degree and there is some political stability following the recent presidential elections, there is still a great deal to be done to help rebuild the country.

The UN Office of Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that the recovery process is fragile and could be upset by a number of factors including flooding, hurricane damage or an outbreak of disease.

What are we doing?

Age UK and HelpAge International are the only agencies specifically targeting older people in emergencies. We have an extensive programme in Haiti to help assist older people.

• We have set up 98 Older People’s Associations (OPAs) so older people can express their needs and make their demands clear. 
• We are running a home-care programme, recruiting and paying older people to befriend more vulnerable older people and meet their basic needs.
• We arrange activities to entertain and distract older people (such as flower arranging, clothes making, day trips and parties) so that older people have a place to meet others, feel less isolated and overcome the trauma of the earthquake and the losses they have experienced.
• We provide age-friendly healthcare, having set up the country’s first and only geriatric ward in a private hospital and working with three public health centres to provide appropriate care for older people. We also run eye camps and distribute glasses, so older people can see better, feel more safe and less isolated.
• We have created a radio programme to broadcast information and entertainment messages to older people; and we have distributed solar- powered lanterns and radios so older people feel safer in the camps.
• We also distribute cash transfers and loans as well as providing training, so older people can set up their own small businesses and feel more productive members of society.

One of the older carers, Adna Jean, says ‘Because of HelpAge, older people feel like human beings’.

Evaluation of the Age UK/DEC funded HelpAge project in Haiti Phase1 and Phase 2.1(PDF 1003.5KB)

Age UK External Evaluation Management Response, Haiti (PDF 52.2KB)