MaximsNewsNetwork: HAITI: SANITATION A PRIORITY TO AVOID DISEASES (U.N. MINUSTAH)

MaximsNewsNetwork: 03 February 2010 - U.N. MINUSTAH: Port-au-Prince, Haiti - With an estimated 1 million made homeless by the earthquake in Haiti, sanitation is a priority. UN officials say some 7,000 latrines are needed and that sanitation will remain an important public health issue in the coming weeks in order to avoid the spread of disease.

This crowded make-shift camp in Petionville is just one of 500 scattered throughout the capital Port-au-Prince.

The earthquake has shattered lives and now the lack of sanitation in these refugee camps where thousands are crowded together is creating a vast breeding ground for disease.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Michaela Pierre-Louis
"People and their kids go to the bathroom everywhere. And then we can't even breathe. They don't clean up their mess. And we have to live next to it. And the garbage is bad too. We are in a bad state here."

The temporary status of the people and their shelter is adding to the challenge of sanitation intervention.

SOUNDBITE (French) David Dolienne, Water and Sanitation Specialist,




UNICEF:
"Is the population going to permanently be located in these camps? This decision has




yet to be made. If the population is going to be relocated, then we need to start




putting in place the water and sanitation infrastructure now so it will be there when
they arrive."
With an estimated 1 million made homeless by the quake, building latrines as well as finding the space to build them is a challenge. UN officials say some 7,000 latrines are needed and that sanitation will remain an important public health issue in the coming weeks in order to avoid the spread of disease.
The current conditions leave people exposed to cholera, dysentery, tetanus, malaria and other communicable diseases.

SOUNDBITE (Creole) Roselaine Saint-Louis
"We're afraid of disease. But we are forced to accept living in filth. We live in the




street, we have no where else to go."

Nearly three dozen organizations are joining in a UN-led effort to build latrines and handle solid waste disposal. Officials say they also plan to build more permanent resettlement camps with plumbing and sewage and some locations have already been allocated. ................................................................................­............................. ( STABILIZATION MISSION IN HAITI: MINUSTAH ) ................................................................................­................................ MaximsNewsNetwork:
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