DOMINICAN REPUBLIC / QUAKE SURVIVORS

The UNICEF-supported Dario Contreras Hospital in Santo Domingo is the city's primary trauma centre. Its wards are crowded with Haitian children injured in last week's earthquake. UNICEF

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:43
• Production Date: 21 January 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN'S FUND - UNICEF
• Subject Topical: HUMANITARIAN RELIEF; REFUGEES; DISPLACED PERSONS; DISASTER PREVENTION; DISASTER PREPAREDNESS; DISASTER RELIEF; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
• Geographic Subject: HAITI
• MAMS Id: U100121d

Description

STORY: SANTO DOMINGO / QUAKE SURVIVORS
TRT: 1.43
SOURCE: UNICEF
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE: 19-20 JANUARY, PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI, SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Shotlist

MINUSTAH - 19 JANUARY 2010, PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI, 19 JANUARY

1. Various shots, UNICEF distributing water to Port au Prince children

UNICEF – 20 JANUARY 2010, SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

2. Various shots, Dario Contreras hospital
3. Various shots, injured children at hospital
4. SOUDBITE (Spanish) Dr. Antonio Coplin, Dario Contreras Hospital:
“We have received many children. I couldn’t say how many because I don’t have the totals. But there are several children with fractures and trauma.”
5. Various shots, injured children in hospital
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Dr. Hector Quezada,Director, Dario Contreras Hospital:
"A lot of infant children have arrived at the hospital without their parents. They need mother’s milk to continue to live. And some women have volunteered as breast feeders. We currently have some Dominican mothers who have donated their milk to feed these infants. This is a gesture of a generosity and solidarity of mankind."

MINUSTAH - 19 JANUARY 2010, PORT AU PRINCE, HAITI

7. Various shots, injured children in temporary clinic in Port au Prince

Storyline

As the logistical challenges that have hampered the relief effort in Haiti begin to get ironed out, some of the injured have been brought to the Dominican Republic.

The Dario Contreras Hospital in Santo Domingo is the city’s primary care centre and the staff has been mobilized to treat Haitians, especially children who have been suffering from injuries sustained in last week’s devastating earthquake.

The children, at the hospital range in age from one month to fourteen years.

SOUDBITE (Spanish) Dr. Antonio Coplin, Dario Contreras Hospital:
“We have received many children. I couldn’t say how many because I don’t have the totals. But there are several children with fractures and trauma.”

Hospitals along the border, particularly the town of Jimani have been inundated with Haitians seeking treatment for trauma, crush injuries and exhaustion. These facilities simply do not have the capacity to treat all these patients and the growing demand, so they’re brought here to facilities in Santo Domingo, the Dario Contreras hospital.

The hospital is just the first step for these children. UNICEF is working with the National Council of Children to create safe spaces for them when it comes time to leave.

Dominican women, meanwhile, are ensuring that the babies have adequate food.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Dr. Hector Quezada,Director, Dario Contreras Hospital:
"A lot of infant children have arrived at the hospital without their parents. They need mother’s milk to continue to live. And some women have volunteered as breast feeders. We currently have some Dominican mothers who have donated their milk to feed these infants. This is a gesture of a generosity and solidarity of mankind."

UNICEF will be working with the governments of Haiti and the Dominican Republic to meet the medical needs of children and their families and also to establish facilities to help them deal with their psychological trauma.

It hopes to have safe spaces for all under five children in Port au Prince by the end of the week.