Before January 12, many Haitians already struggled to make ends meet. According to the United Nations and the World Bank: • More than 70 percent of Haitians lived on less than $2 a day. • There were roughly 2.5 doctors per 10,000 Haitians. • One in three Haitians lacked access to safe, drinkable municipal water. • Fewer than one in five people had access to adequate sanitation. • Most of Haiti—or 95 percent—was deforested, undermining agriculture and greatly increasing vulnerability to natural disasters.
After January 12, the challenges facing Haitians have grown exponentially. The Red Cross has responded and is providing: • Cash grants and loans to help 220,000 people. • Medical services for nearly 217,000 patients. • Safe, drinkable water for 317,000 people every day. • Latrines for 265,000 people. • Disaster preparedness training and other activities that have reached almost 72,000 people.