Haiti relief operations were poorly coordinated in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 12 earthquake, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has concluded, according to the Montreal Gazette. David Peppiatt, international director of the British Red Cross, explained that there are 900 aid agencies working on the ground in Haiti and “that’s a huge coordination challenge.”
“There were huge, physical challenges. In most operations, there is a stronger infrastructure in place. In this, the government infrastructure was totally devastated,” Peppiatt said.
But the British Red Cross official, who was sent to assess the organization’s operations on the ground, noted that the situation is improving. He said coordinating structures are now in place and the United Nations is providing critical leadership.
