Fuel shortages in Haiti cause about 300 children and 45 women are at risk, UNICEF said on Sunday. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says hundreds of children and women are at risk in some 150 health centers of Covid 19 patients in Haiti.
Many hospitals in the country had sent out SOS assistance requests to UNICEF and its partners on social media and other means of communication, Raoul de Torcy, UNICEF Vice President in Haiti, said. Many hospitals were experiencing fuel shortages, disrupting life-saving operations, he added.
UNICEF has awarded a contract for about 40,000 liters of fuel as a temporary solution to the current situation, but local distributors are unable to deliver the fuel to hospitals due to insecurity in the country. More than 12,000 people injured in the August 14, 2021 earthquake in Haiti still need treatment.
The continuing insecurity and fuel crisis in the country is affecting the sub-sectors there. At a time when the lives of many women and children are in danger, including those seeking help in healthcare facilities, UNICEF has appealed to those concerned to avoid insecurity and stop violence in the country. The UN body also called on the government to take steps to ensure security in the country and to provide basic services without restrictions.