The European Commission is scaling up its assistance in Haiti to bring relief to the people most affected by Isaac. With a new funding decision worth €3 million, the Commission will provide water purification kits, plastic sheeting, temporary shelters and other emergency equipment. Special attention will be paid to the provision of clean water and adequate sanitation to avoid an increase in cholera cases.

"Our aid will reach over 20,000 families affected by Isaac in Haiti. Our experts' assessment after the storm reveals a very worrying situation, especially in the rural areas previously affected by a drought," said Kristalina Georgieva, the European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response. Preliminary figures show that 100,000 people were affected by the heavy rains and strong winds caused by tropical cyclone Isaac that hit Haiti during the night of 24 August.

Haiti is the largest beneficiary of the European Commission's humanitarian assistance in Latin America and the Caribbean, while the European Union is the largest relief aid donor to the country. For 2012, the Commission has set aside €15.25 million in humanitarian aid for Haiti. Its assistance focuses on helping cope with displacement, responding to the cholera epidemics and reducing the risk of major natural event.

HL/ HaitiLibre