Haiti Earthquake: Child disability figures will rise sharply

CBM is responding to the Haiti earthquake by sending emergency personnel to assess the short and long-term needs of their partners.

Whole areas of Port-au-Prince have been reduced to rubble by the earthquake of January 12. Photo: CBM.

CBM is committed to meeting immediate medical needs, while also rebuilding infrastructure to meet long-term needs and ensure the human rights for those with disabilities are met.

National Director of CBM UK, Dr. Bill McAllister explained the importance and need for the provision of proper medical care.

"For children alone, statistics show that for every death of a child during a disaster, three are left injured and many of these injuries can, and do, lead to permanent disability without the proper medical care. Without proper medical care, child disability figures will rocket."

"Our international programmes staff estimate that the number of injured children, men, and women demanding hospital services will increase 10-fold," McAllister says.

CBM has been working with local partners in Haiti since 1976. CBM UK launched their Haiti Earthquake Appeal on 13th January 2010.