Plan International will be assisting up to 25,000 families affected by Hurricane Matthew in Haiti as the Category 4 storm has left a trail of destruction behind it.

The most powerful Caribbean hurricane in almost a decade has caused widespread devastation in the country’s south-west leaving thousands displaced – including children. According to Haiti’s Directorate of Civil Protection, 350,000 people are in need of assistance.

Donate to the Haiti hurricane appealPlan International has set aside an initial response fund of €5mn focusing on non-food items, water, sanitation and hygiene and child protection among other areas of need. Plan International has long been established in Haiti’s worst-affected south-west region where it is implementing development programmes in local communities, mainly supporting children.

Children a priority

“Children are among the most vulnerable during disaster situations and our main efforts will be to ensure their well-being and protection,” said Marie Therese Frederique Jean Pierre, Plan International’s Country Director in Haiti.

“The collapse of a bridge connecting capital Port-au-Prince to the affected south-western areas has made relief assessment and response even harder. The real scale of the disaster will only emerge in due course. We are in touch with our teams on the ground and are mobilising resources to support the affected families.”

In its warehouse, Plan International has a number of essential non-food items – such as hygiene kits, kitchen kits, mattresses and blankets. Further supplies are on standby in the neighbouring Dominican Republic, where we also have operations.

Support the Haiti Hurricane appeal.