Haiti is now facing one of the most severe outbreaks of cholera that has been seen in the last century. This outbreak is made more complex by the humanitarian situation which resulted from the 12 January earthquake, which killed an estimated 230,000 people and injured 300,000. Nearly 1.5 million people were left homeless and they subsequently moved into spontaneous settlement sites throughout Port-au-Prince and other cities.

The living conditions of the population in Haiti, particularly those in displaced people’s camps, make the country extremely vulnerable to cholera spread. Treating people is also challenging because health workers are inexperienced and the existing health system was weakened by the earthquake. This makes the inter-cluster system – with particular leadership roles for the Health, Water, Sanitation and Health (WASH), Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) and Logistics clusters – vital in managing response to outbreaks in a way that is both synchronized and collaborative. 

Since 19 October, when the first cases were confirmed, the humanitarian response has been led by the Ministry of Public Health and Populations with technical support from the Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO). Cases have been
confirmed in five departments out of ten, with high probability of spread through all the country within the coming months. As of 8 November, the Ministry of Public Health and Populations reported 9,971 hospitalized cases and 643 deceased (of whom 382 deceased in
hospitals and 261 in the communities).

The humanitarian response that was quickly mobilized has been multi-sectoral (Health, WASH, Education, Food, Logistics, CCCM clusters and communication partners), involving governmental institutions such as the Ministry of Public Health and Populations (MSPP), Direction Nationale de l'Eau Potable et de l'Assainissement (National Directorate for Potable Water and Sanitation, DINEPA), Département de la Protection Civile (DPC), United Nations agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). Inter-cluster coordination mechanisms were also put in place in the Artibonite Department to ensure not only a coordinated and strong response at department level but also strong links between the departmental and national levels.

The main objective of the inter-cluster response plan is to reduce avoidable mortality and morbidity by limiting the impact of the current cholera outbreak in Haiti, through support to the MSPP and DINEPA National Response Plan (see annex).

The humanitarian organisations in Haiti are requesting a total of US$ 163,894,856 for the implementation of this response.