An injured child is tended to at the Hotel Villa Creole in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010. © AP Photo/I. Demers

19.01.2010

Swedish PostcodeLottery supports UNHCR's Haiti operation

As a quick response to the massive and urgent needs in Haiti, the Swedish PostcodeLottery (SPL) is contributing with a most welcome donation of 3 million SEK to UNHCR's emergency operations in the region.

The donation from SPL will contribute to UNHCR's back up expertise in protection, camp management, site planning and coordination as well as our stockpile of tents and plastic sheeting, where needed.

Two plane loads carrying 2,130 light weight tents and 18,550 plastic sheets for 92,750 beneficiaries will arrive in Haiti at the beginning of next week from UNHCR’s logistics hub in Dubai. Six hospital tents have already been sent.

UNHCR is also sending experts on protection to Haiti to support a team led by OHCHR. The team will work to identify and assist the most vulnerable people.

In addition, a small UNHCR team will arrive in the Dominican Republic imminently, at the request of the UN’s Resident Coordinator there. UNHCR will focus on protection, including border monitoring: 1) closely follow the political and security situation inside Haiti; 2) increase alert capacity and response in case of risk of mass influx to the Dominican Republic; and 3) monitor the situation in the border area, human rights issues and attention to vulnerable population.

The broader humanitarian effort to address the enormous needs in Haiti is under the leadership of the Emergency Relief Coordinator, John Holmes, and UNHCR reiterates its strong commitment to back up and support the Emergency Operation.