The recurring insecurity and instability in Haiti, as well as the blocking in Varreux (Cité Soleil) of the country's main petroleum product terminal by armed gangs hhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37702-haiti-flash-barbecue-blocks-the-varreux-terminal-and-defeats-the-pm-video.html , prevents the delivery of fuel essential to the proper functioning of hospitals in particular.

According to data recently collected by the United Nations' World Health Organization/Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), lack of access to fuel affects almost three-quarters of the country's main hospitals.

Some hospitals are unable to admit new patients and are preparing to close https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37738-icihaiti-crisis-hospitals-and-a-physiotherapy-center-threatened-with-closure-for-lack-of-fuel.html . It is increasingly difficult to ensure sterile conditions for medical interventions including caesareans and the storage of vaccines because the interruption of the cold chain has become problematic. Many hospitals are also experiencing an oxygen shortage.

Although the majority of hospitals are connected to the national electricity grid (EDH), they have to resort to generators due to the lack of continuity of electricity supply.

"Lives are already being lost in Haiti because hospitals cannot access fuel," said Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti. "If this situation continues," she added, "vital services risk stopping, especially for pregnant women, newborns and children, as well as for people suffering from trauma and other potentially deadly infections."

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have worked with hospitals, health authorities and partners to install solar power systems that have improved the conservation of the cold chain and enabled maternity services to continue at 12 sites. However, solar energy is insufficient to allow hospitals to operate fully. UNICEF estimates that 22,100 children under 5 and more than 28,000 newborns are at risk of not receiving essential health services over the next four weeks.

In addition, many health personnel are unable to get to work and provide patient care. The current situation also has a negative impact on the resupply of drugs and medical inputs https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37733-haiti-news-zapping.html

The fuel shortage has also greatly reduced the operations of the National Ambulance Center in Port-au-Prince, which only operates with three ambulances. In the rest of the country, these services are greatly reduced or even completely interrupted.

See also :

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-37738-icihaiti-crisis-hospitals-and-a-physiotherapy-center-threatened-with-closure-for-lack-of-fuel.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37733-haiti-news-zapping.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37702-haiti-flash-barbecue-blocks-the-varreux-terminal-and-defeats-the-pm-video.html

HL/ HaitiLibre